Wednesday, March 21, 2001
Superintendentto play new role
CANFIELD -- For three evenings, Canfield's schools superintendent will shed his image as authority figure and policeman and take on the role of, well, an authority figure and policeman.
Douglas Hiscox will appear in Canfield High School's production of the gangster musical "Guys and Dolls" as Lt. Branigan, the Irish cop whose mission it is to close down the oldest floating crap game in New York.
The production also will feature assistant football coach and Assistant Principal Tim Saxon as the burly Big Jule, a gambler.
Hiscox said he agreed to appear after several years of asking by the drama club. "You can only say 'no' for so long," he said.
The casting call is remembered differently by the director, Ellen Lettrich. After the school's summer show, Hiscox approached her with a suggestion: "You know, I think it is time to get me on the stage," she recalls him saying.
Both Saxon and Hiscox have thrown themselves into their roles, memorizing their parts and participating in a grueling schedule of rehearsals, Lettrich said.
"It has just increased the excitement about the show," Lettrich said.
Performances of Guys and Dolls are at 7:30 March 29 and 8 p.m. March 30 and 31. Tickets are $8 for adults, and $5 for pupils and senior citizens.
Liberty homicide
LIBERTY -- The Trumbull County Coroner's Office has ruled Friday's shooting death of a 25-year-old man a homicide.
Niles Jason Emmerts was found dead behind his Monticello apartments at 4148 Madison Ave. after a neighbor called police.
Police are investigating a link between the shooting and a Nov. 30 break-in at Emmerts' apartment.
Gunshots reported
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 17-year-old boy told police someone fired at him eight times from a passing car while he was walking along Ohio Avenue Tuesday morning to The Rayen School, where he is a senior.
The boy told Lt. Franklin Palmer, who was working security duty at the school, that a passenger in the car fired the shots near Dennick Avenue about 8:20.
He said he has no idea who would want to shoot at him.
Lawsuit filed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Lawrence A. Christopher of Denver Drive, Lake Milton, is seeking more than $22 million from village officials and others in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.
Named as defendants are Mayor Camillo Gaia, Police Chief Richard Watson, police officer Michael Leone, and Norma Webb and Helen MacKendrick, both of Lake Milton, and members of the Craig Beach Community Family Organization.
The suit says Christopher was harassed by the defendants because he supported a proposed merger of Craig Beach and Milton Township, which was defeated by voters last year.
Christopher's suit says criminal charges were filed against him in retaliation for his political activism, though the charges ended up being dismissed in Mahoning County Court in Austintown.
He says his civil rights were violated.
Purse stolen
BOARDMAN -- A Campbell woman told police her purse was snatched outside of J.C. Penney at Southern Park Mall about 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The woman said she was entering the mall with her daughter and two grandchildren when a black male grabbed her purse from behind and fled in a Ford Taurus.
Berlin trustees action
BERLIN CENTER -- Berlin Township trustees have approved the purchase of a dozen American flags for street display on holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Trustee Ivan Hoyle said 12 are ordered every year to replace worn ones.
Trustees also set spring trash pickup for the northern part of the township the week of April 23 and the southern part the week of April 30.
They also bought a 14-gallon power sprayer for the road department for less than $200 to kill weeds around road signs and guardrails.
The board will move its meetings to 8 p.m. Mondays, starting April 2. A special meeting is set for 10 a.m. April 21 to discuss fire department business.