New zoning ordinance

New zoning ordinance
HOWLAND -- Township trustees have approved a zoning ordinance that will allow companies to use large, empty retail buildings for light assembly and manufacturing.
The ordinance is intended to allow redevelopment of buildings left vacant by stores, said John Emanuel, township administrator.
Trustees also approved a plan permitting Shepherd of the Valley nursing home to build a 40-bed addition for skilled-nursing patients.
Talk on phone service
AUSTINTOWN -- Telephone service issues will be the topic of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel at noon Tuesday at Eagles Aerie 3298, 1655 S. Raccoon Road.
Topics will include recent changes in Ohio's telephone industry and how to interpret a telephone bill, shop for a long-distance service and guard against scams.
Democrats to meet
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Democrats of the 17th District, an area political organization, will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Open Hearth Grill on Steel Street. The meeting is open to the public.
Charged in threats
SHARON, Pa. -- Ryan Redmond, 18, of South Irvine Avenue, is free on his own recognizance after his arraignment Wednesday on charges of making terroristic threats and harassment.
Police said he called his ex-girlfriend's home twice July 3 threatening to kill her, her new boyfriend and a third person. He was arrested Tuesday.
Forgery, theft charges
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Timothy G. Hassen, 20, of Sheridan Street, is free on his own recognizance after his arrest on charges of forgery, theft and receiving stolen property.
Police said Hassen stole two checks, forged signatures on them and cashed them at two banks in the city. He was arraigned Monday.
Arrested on warrant
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Tamara Barbir, 42, of Frampton Road, is free on her own recognizance after being arrested on a warrant Tuesday charging her with burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.
Police said she broke into a Broadway Avenue business June 21 and stole a handgun.
Fatal accident
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Pulaski Township woman was killed Wednesday night when the vehicle she was driving went off the road and rolled over.
Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle said they don't know what caused Bonnie L. Devore of Garden View Mobile Home Park to drive off Evergreen Road.
They said she wasn't wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle.
Power outage
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- Penn Power says it's likely that a raccoon caused a power outage affecting 2,345 customers in the Shenango Valley early today.
Randy Coleman, area manager, said the animal got into a substation.
Power to all customers was restored by 6:25 a.m.
Nurse charged in theft
SHARON, Pa. -- Police have arrested a Sharon Regional Health System nurse on charges of theft and receiving stolen property.
A patient accused her of taking $900 from him.
Police said Jennifer Sigwalt, 27, of Fruit Avenue, Farrell, is a licensed practical nurse who was taking the patient for tests when he gave her $900 in a money clip to hold for him.
She didn't return the money, using it to go shopping, police said. Sigwalt was arrested at 9 a.m. Wednesday and later was arraigned and freed on her own recognizance.
Man shot on Ohio Ave.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gregory Merchant, 36, of Willis Avenue, was in critical condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center after a shooting about 4:15 a.m. on Ohio Avenue.
Residents told police they heard arguing and then at least two shots.
Police learned that a car sped from the scene, south on Ohio and west onto Crandall Avenue.
Greenhouse vandalized
LAKE MILTON -- Someone did about $4,000 in damage to the Nemenz Foodland greenhouse at 1428 Grandview Road.
The manager told a Mahoning County deputy sheriff that the aluminum door and frame to the greenhouse had been bent and broken and plastic panels cut out.
All contents were overturned. The vandalism happened between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday.