Police investigate body found in dump truck

Police investigate bodyfound in dump truck
NILES -- Police and the Trumbull County coroner's office are investigating the discovery of a body in a Robbins Avenue lot.
Police were called about 6 p.m. Thursday by a man who reported finding the body inside his dump truck.
The man said he last checked the truck, which is inoperable and stored at the lot, about a week ago.
The body, identified in a police report as Leslie Harkleroad, 53, of Niles, was partially covered with a blanket and lying across the seat.
A receipt, dated Aug. 16 and indicating he was paid for scrap, was found in his wallet.
According to a police report, foul play isn't suspected and there were no injuries detected on initial examination by the coroner's office.
The body was taken to the Summit County coroner's office for examination because of decomposition.
Sobriety checkpoint
WARREN -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol will conduct a sobriety checkpoint at Milepost 1 on state Route 193 (Belmont Avenue) in Liberty Township.
Several area police departments and the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department will participate in the checkpoint from 11 o'clock tonight to 3 a.m. Saturday.
News blackout
KINSMAN -- The Joseph Badger Local School District and Badger Education Association aren't talking about contract negotiations.
Superintendent Richard Pachuk said this morning a federal mediator has imposed a news blackout until after the next session, which has not been scheduled. The school board will meet in special session Monday at 4 p.m. at the high school.
The two sides met with the mediator Thursday evening.
BEA, which represents 74 teachers, filed a notice of intent to strike Sept. 5 if a contract isn't reached.
The contract expires Aug. 31.
Ursuline sisters to open'A House of Blessing'
WARREN -- A transitional housing program operated by the Ursuline Sisters in Youngstown will open here after the first of the year.
"A House of Blessing," a women's housing program of the Beatitude House in Mahoning County, will be located at 1370 Tod Ave.
Officials say the building was donated by Humility of Mary Health Partners and the Catholic Charities Housing Opportunity.
"The Potter's Wheel," a job training and economic planning program of the Ursuline Sisters, opened July 1 in First Presbyterian Church, 256 Mahoning Ave., Warren. Kathleen Zimmerman is program director.
A teacher and a case manager will start work soon, officials say, and volunteers and program participants are lined up.
The program is designed to empower women outside the economic and cultural mainstream and offers counseling, case management, life skills training and parenting programs.
Police seek con man
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police are looking for a gold-toothed, quick-change artist who conned a sales clerk out of $150. Police didn't identify the store but said the con man entered a business in the 1600 block of East State Street around 9 p.m. Wednesday and, in a series of requests for various bill denominations in his change, managed to take $150 from a clerk.
The man had a gold front tooth and several other teeth were missing. He was described as black, in his 40s, about 6 feet tall and weighing about 250 pounds.
Art show benefit
YOUNGSTOWN -- An art show to benefit Helping Other Women will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Lincoln Christian Church. A variety of art styles will be for sale. Reservations should be made by Monday by calling (330) 750-9028.
Discussing con artists
CLARK, Pa. -- John Kelly, South Pymatuning Township police chief, will be the guest speaker at the Shenango Recreation Area campground on Shenango River Lake at 2 p.m. Saturday. Kelly's topic will be con artists and how to avoid them. The one-hour program will offer tips about phony frauds and schemes that cost victims about $40 billion a year. The session will be in the campground's Lakeside Pavilion and is free.