Man steals lizards from Niles pet store

Man steals lizardsfrom Niles pet store
NILES -- A pet store on Youngstown-Warren Road reported the theft of two bearded dragon lizards. An employee at Pet Supply Plus told police a man walked into the store at 4:20 p.m. Thursday, walked around the store for about 10 minutes and then grabbed the two reptiles and ran out of the store. The man left in an older model navy blue Chevy Camaro, the employee reported.
A store spokesman said the lizards sell for $84.95 each.
Warren woman losesage-discrimination suit
WARREN -- A jury has found that Valley Counseling Services did not discriminate against a woman because of her age. The jury reached the decision after deliberating three hours Wednesday.
JoAnne Carwithen, 55, of Hewitt-Gifford Road S.W., Warren, was asking for damages because she believed she was fired because of her age.
The jury, however, rejected her claim. According to court documents filed by Carwithen's lawyer, Carwithen was discharged from her employment during her six-month probationary term.
Money repaid to Mecca
MECCA -- The money that was taken from the township by the wife of the former township clerk has been repaid, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Lynda Chronister has paid the township $37,415.50 and a Toledo bonding company paid the township $10,000. The $47,415.50 covers the amount Chronister is accused of taking plus the money it cost the township to pay for a special audit, prosecutors said.
Chronister pleaded guilty in August to 10 forgery counts and is serving a six-month sentence at an alternative sentencing program.
Her husband, Rand, pleaded guilty in September to a misdemeanor charge of dereliction of duty. He is scheduled to serve 30 days in jail beginning June 4.
Howland school board
HOWLAND -- The March meeting of the Howland Board of Education has been changed to noon March 23.
The meeting will be at the district's administrative offices, 8200 South St. S.E.
Township imposes fine
HARRISVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- A transsexual accused of killing her husband by castrating him now faces a daily fine of up to $300 if she does not clean up her mobile home.
Tammy L. Felbaum's mobile home in Marion Township in Butler County is so unsanitary that the township solicitor is researching whether the municipality can file a civil lawsuit against her, township secretary Deborah Bailey said. The fine started to accrue today.
Felbaum, 42, is jailed without bond on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of medicine in the February death of her husband, James John Felbaum, 40.
Attempted robbery
YOUNGSTOWN -- A white man in a black ski mask fired shots at a woman trying to make a deposit late Thursday at National City Bank on South Meridian Road.
The woman and her boyfriend told police they pulled into the bank lot about 11:35 p.m. to drop off three money bags from McDonald's on Salt Springs Road in Girard.
The gunman ran up and said "hold it right there."
As the victims drove off, a bullet hit the windshield and dash. Another shot missed.
The victims used a cell phone to call police from Meridian and Mahoning Avenue.
No-contest plea
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Franklin Avenue mother whose nearly naked 3-year-old boy was found barefoot in the snow pleaded no contest Thursday in municipal court to two counts of child endangering.
Sandra Faye Smith, 23, will be sentenced April 13.
Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly ordered a presentence investigation.
Police who went to Smith's house Feb. 22 said it was in deplorable condition.
The officers also found Smith's 1-year-old son standing in a filthy crib.