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Niles Times

Holiday items on display at Ward-Thomas Museum

NILES — With the new year starting, the Niles Historical Society will showcase holiday and winter-themed decorations its monthly open house 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Ward-Thomas Museum, 503 Brown St. The open house is held the first Sunday of each month but was rescheduled in January due to New Year’s Day holiday. A Christmas salt and pepper shaker collection from resident Annette Batovsky, miniature Christmas villages and vintage White House ornaments will be on display at the museum. Mannequins placed throughout the museum are dressed in life-sized replicas of the White ...

Niles building repairs on track

NILES — The architect guiding the city through repairs at the city administration building is recommending the city accept bids offered for the last stages of the work. At the Dec. 28 roundtable, council members and the administration heard from Bruce Sekanick with Phillips Sekanick Architects Inc. He recommended the city move forward with a $78,000 bid from Alex Restoration and Masonry Repairs in New Castle, Pa., for masonry work and waterproofing; and a $57,000 bid from Jim Santini Builder Inc. in Washingtonville to complete interior touch-ups. “I know when we started this ...

City policies directed at impropriety

NILES — Several new policies, including hiring standards, were put into place this year in the wake of an investigation by Ohio Auditor Dave Yost’s Office that led to charges against the city’s former mayor. The rules proposed by city council President Robert Marino also cover fraud, financial impropriety, employment outside of the city and vehicle use. And although Ohio law already covers many of the points, Marino said he proposed them to reinforce the expectations on city employees. Department heads are expected to provide the policies to employees. Marino, who announced ...

McKinley house reopens

NILES — After closings its doors for six months in 2016 for needed repairs and upgrades, the McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center on South Main Street was reopened and will hold special open houses in January and February. McKinley Memorial Library Director Michele Alleman, who will mark the completion of her first year as director, said waterproofing and reinforcement work was finished at the replica house, with plans for landscaping work around the building to be scheduled in spring. She said there is discussion to have the house open Mondays and Wednesdays later this ...

Briefs

Shaker plans to run for judge NILES — Niles Municipal Court Judge Thomas W. Townley said he is retiring at the end of 2017 and a local attorney announced plans to run in the May primary for his seat. In a news release, Christopher J. Shaker, 58, of Niles, announced plans to file nominating petitions Jan. 3 with the Trumbull County Board of Elections. The primary is May 2 and the term starts Jan. 1, 2018. Shaker has been practicing law since 1983, and has worked with the county prosecutor’s office, school boards in McDonald and Weathersfield, is a former president ...

Agenda

• GIRARD BOARD OF EDUCATION will hold an organizational meeting 4 p.m. today at the board offices. • GIRARD CITY COUNCIL meets 7 p.m. Monday at the municipal building. • McDONALD BOARD OF EDUCATION will meet 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at high school media center. • McDONALD PLANNING COMMISSION will meet 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at municipal building. • McDONALD VILLAGE COUNCIL meets 6 p.m. today at the village municipal building. • McKINLEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES meets 3 p.m. Monday at the McKinley Birthplace Home. • NILES CITY COUNCIL meets 6 p.m. today at the safety ...