Crash victims at St. E's

Crash victims at St. E's
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Two of the survivors in a fatal crash Thursday on U.S. Route 422 were taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center. Conditions for Joshua Keller and William Mullins, both 29 and from Edinburg, Pa., were not available late Friday. Pennsylvania State Police said Keller was driving his 1994 Plymouth when it crashed into the rear of a tractor-trailer in the eastbound lane of Route 422 in Slippery Rock Township. Keller's passenger John E. Truby, 51, of North Shenango Street, New Castle, died. Police said the truck driver, Ronald Crowe, 61, of Slippery Rock, Pa., was not hurt.
Awaiting drug sentence
LISBON -- A Wellsville man is awaiting sentencing in March after a Columbiana County Common Pleas Court jury found him guilty of two felonies. Randall T. Brush, 46, of Highland Avenue, was indicted in 2004 on charges of cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana. His trial began Wednesday in the courtroom of Judge C. Ashley Pike, and the jury returned its verdict Thursday. Police seized about 3 pounds of marijuana from his home and its roof, where he was growing the drug in pots. Brush wanted, but was not allowed, to claim he was growing marijuana for medical use. Ohio law does not allow for that defense.
Woman's death probed
YOUNGSTOWN -- The mother of a 20-year-old Boardman woman who died shortly after arrival Thursday night at St. Elizabeth Health Center suspects her daughter, Rebecca DeLiso, may have been slipped drugs, reports show. The coroner and detectives are investigating. The young woman was first taken to Forum Health Beeghly Medical Center with a distended stomach and severe pain early Thursday -- about six hours after she and her roommate had been at a downtown bar. The young woman returned to her Mathews Road home but collapsed, and an ambulance was summoned around 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Driver reports shots
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ernest Cottle II, 21, of Bryson Street told police he was shot at as he drove along Covington Street but he couldn't see who was firing from inside a white Chevrolet Blazer. Two of the shots flattened the rear tires of the car Cottle was driving Thursday afternoon, police said. He drove to Delaware Avenue and called police to report what happened and was issued a citation for having an expired license and driving under suspension, reports show.
Suit filed over meeting
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Union Township man has filed a lawsuit contending he was barred from a public meeting and the township building. Arwood W. Pinkerton Jr. of Old Youngstown Road contends he was barred from attending the 9 a.m. Dec. 27 meeting at the Union Township Municipal Building by Supervisor Stephen Galizia. Court papers say Galizia then went on to bar Pinkerton from the municipal building. Galizia has since left office. The complaint says Pinkerton is asking the court to find Galizia in violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, void all business conducted at that meeting and have the plaintiffs pay Pinkerton's attorney fees and costs.
Start times changed
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council has changed the start time of its work sessions to 6:30 p.m., effective Tuesday. Earlier this month, council introduced an ordinance changing the start time of its work sessions and regular meetings from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., effective Feb. 23. An ordinance must be introduced and advertised before council can vote on whether to adopt it. City officials later realized, however, it is not necessary to change the time of a work session with the adoption of an ordinance, but that changing the time for work sessions could be made immediately through approval of a resolution. The 6:30 p.m. start time for regular meetings will take effect as previously announced Feb. 23.
Levy resolution
CORTLAND -- City council meets in special session at 7 p.m. Monday in council chambers to consider a resolution declaring that it is necessary to replace the fire levy. Voters approved a continuous 6.76-mill fire levy in 1995 that generates about $706,000 annually. Because of increased valuations, the actual millage amount has decreased to generate that amount. The replacement would be 1.4 mills at most, said Frances Moyer, city finance director. The replacement of the millage that will be determined by the county auditor would generate about $165,000 yearly. Property owners would pay about $50 more a year for every $100,000 valuation, Moyer said.