Rescuers honored

Rescuers honored
YOUNGSTOWN -- City council honored Ronald Betters and Tom Yeager for fending off two dogs that attacked a 75-year-old Poland man in February. Betters and Yeager, both of Youngstown, armed with only a large stick and a pitch fork, kept the dogs at bay until police officers arrived.
During the meeting Wednesday, Yeager said his action was something everyone should feel obligated to do. He then led those present through a prayer.
An officer shot one of the dogs, which had bitten Joseph Locicero's legs as it attempted to charge. The other dog was captured by Mahoning County dog wardens.
Buying new backhoe
CANFIELD -- The city will trade in its old backhoe and pay $38,000 for a new model, council decided Monday night. The backhoe, to be purchased from G.S. Canfield Equipment Co., will be used to load road salt onto trucks, excavate water and sewer lines, and dig graves in the city's two cemeteries.
Magistrate hired
YOUNGSTOWN -- Eugene J. Fehr of Canfield Township is the new magistrate in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, chosen from more than 40 candidates.
Fehr, an assistant county prosecutor since 1989, will start his job next week and be paid $62,500 a year, said Administrative Judge Maureen A. Cronin. He replaces Bernard J. Wilkes III, who died in December.
Fehr will preside over nonjury trials for the five common pleas judges, primarily handling insurance cases, business disputes, breaches of contract and other civil matters. His rulings will be subject to review by a judge.
Mayor's hearing moved
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey's hearing into a three-car accident has been moved from Canfield area court to Austintown area court and reset for 6 p.m. Monday. McKelvey was involved in the accident March 16 on U.S. Route 224 in Boardman.
He is charged with failure to maintain assured cleared distance. The hearing was moved from Boardman area court to Canfield area court after Judge Joseph Houser removed himself from the case because of a conflict of interest -- his private practice handles cases for the city.
Poster is finalist
YOUNGSTOWN -- The poster that promoted the city's first First Night celebration of New Year's Eve is among four finalists in a contest sponsored by First Night International.
The winner will be announced at the 15th annual First Night conference later this month in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Youngstown's poster is the only first-year entrant among this year's finalists. The nonalcoholic, family-oriented First Night celebrations, which began in Boston in 1976, are held in 222 communities worldwide, including Youngstown and Canfield.
The deadline for the 2002 First Night Youngstown logo contest is April 15. Call Arlene Thompson at (330) 742-8710 for more information.
Maple trees available
McDONALD -- Village Administrator Robert O'Connell said the village has 15 to 20 maple trees left from its spring planting. Any resident who has lost a tree in the devil strip and would like it replaced should call the municipal building. They will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, he said.
Man shot in calf
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 19-year-old city man was treated in St. Elizabeth Health Center's emergency room after being shot in the calf during a drive-by shooting around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Walter Pearson told police the passenger of a black automobile opened fire on him as he was standing in an Otis Street home's parking area on the North Side.
Domestic dispute
AUSTINTOWN -- Police found a 39-year-old Raccoon Road man sitting in his bathroom with a shotgun barrel in his mouth, after his ex-wife told police he hit her and was threatening suicide, reports say. A police lieutenant persuaded him to put the gun down and take an ambulance to Forum Health Northside Medical Center.
Nails in parking space
AUSTINTOWN -- A North Jackson woman told police that her work parking space at an office building on Westchester Drive had been mined with inch-long roofing nails. She noticed the nails before driving over them when she came into work at 8 a.m. Wednesday. This is the second time it has happened, the woman told police.