Wednesday, July 25, 2001
RR crossings request
COLUMBUS -- Ohio Rail Development Commission has asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to direct the Central Columbiana and Pennsylvania Railroad to have lights and gates functioning at nine grade crossings within nine months. The crossings are at Indianola Avenue, Midlothian Boulevard, Indianola Road, Meadowbrook Avenue, and Boardman-Poland and Western Reserve roads, South Avenue and Market Street in Mahoning County, and at East Park Street and Depot Street in Columbiana. The CCPR's 36-mile track runs from Youngstown to Darlington, Pa., following Southern Boulevard in Youngstown and Boardman. Trains resumed operation in May after a 5 1/2-year absence.
Ex-cop is sued
YOUNGSTOWN -- A former part-time Campbell police officer is being sued by a man he assaulted in December 2000. Christopher Roscoe, 22, of Hickory Trace, Girard, is seeking $350,000 in damages from William R. Darkadakis of New Buffalo Road, Canfield. The city of Campbell and its police department also are named as defendants in the suit, filed Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Darkadakis, 21, fired gunshots at Roscoe, then struck him in the head with the gun during an altercation on a Youngstown street. Darkadakis was not on duty at the time. He pleaded guilty in common pleas court earlier this year to felonious assault and was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail. Judge Maureen A. Cronin released him after he served a little more than 30 days and placed him on probation for three years.
Housing project OK'd
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Planning Commission approved plans Tuesday for Westbury Park, a 140-unit single-family housing development on the west end of Gibson Road, Canfield Township. The project was submitted to the panel for preliminary approval in February 2000. At that time, planners expressed concerns over the need for improvements to Gibson Road and whether water and sewer services would be available to the project. Michael O'Shaughnessy, executive director, said those concerns have been addressed by developers and the commission is satisfied.
Gun charges
LAKE MILTON -- A 32-year-old Mahoning Avenue woman faces a Thursday hearing in Mahoning County Court in Austintown on charges that she pulled out a stolen handgun while fighting with another woman. Milton Township police said the women were fighting over a man. The woman was arrested late Monday and charged with aggravated menacing, disorderly conduct and using a firearm while intoxicated. She was taken to Mahoning County Justice Center, from which she was released after posting $2,600 bond. Police said the semiautomatic handgun had been stolen during a 1996 burglary in Brecksville.
Bike trails on agenda
McDONALD -- A public meeting of the Weathersfield Township Responsible Citizens Association will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in Summit Assembly of God, 2615 Salt Springs Road. Susan E. Dicken, director of park development for Mill Creek Metropolitan Park District, will speak about bike trails.
Beaver trustees
NORTH LIMA -- Beaver Township trustees will meet in special session at 7:30 a.m. Saturday to discuss the 2001 and 2002 budgets and personnel issues. The meeting will be in the township meeting room in the South Range Plaza.
Bigamist avoids jail
NEWTON FALLS -- A man found guilty of bigamy has been spared jail time. Municipal Judge Thomas Old sentenced Randy Jarvis, 40, of Mahoning Court, to 90 days in jail Tuesday, but suspended the jail time and a $1,000 fine because Jarvis agreed to pay an undisclosed amount of restitution to Tammy Jarvis. Prosecutor Rick Swartz said Tammy Jarvis told the court that she married Jarvis in March and then found out in April that he was still legally married to a woman in California. Jarvis pleaded no contest last month and the judge found him guilty.