Counterfeit bills are passed in Salem

Counterfeit billsare passed in Salem
SALEM -- Police are investigating the source of two counterfeit $50 bills. A South Union Street man told police Wednesday morning that he had received one of the fake notes but wasn't sure where. It was discovered when he tried to use it at Sparkle Market of Salem on South Lundy Avenue. Also Wednesday, someone used a counterfeit fifty to buy items at Quaker Village on South Lincoln Avenue, police said.
Home Savings fundgives to Salem center
SALEM -- The Youngstown-based Home Savings Charitable Foundation has pledged $75,000 to the nonprofit Salem Community Center now being built. The pledge is being made on behalf of United Community Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries, The Home Savings and Loan Co. and Butler Wick Corp. Both businesses have Salem offices. The $9.5 million community center is being built on North Ellsworth Avenue near 12th Street. It's expected to open in fall 2002.
Child rapist sentencedto 6 years in prison
LISBON -- A Wellsville man is sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of raping a 9-year-old boy. Erwin Brown, 24, was sentenced recently by Judge David Tobin of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. Judge Tobin sentenced Brown to six years on each count but said the sentences may be served at the same time. The maximum sentence for each count is 10 years. Brown raped the boy over a period of time in 2000, assistant county Prosecutor Tim McNicol said today. Brown knew the child.
Teacher waives rightto preliminary hearing
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- A special-needs teacher at Hickory High School waived her right to a preliminary hearing on charges of theft, recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of a child in her charge and acquisition of a controlled substance by misrepresentation or subterfuge.
Marganie Bortz, 53, of Rexford Drive, appeared before District Justice Henry Russo on the charges Wednesday, but the case was moved on to common pleas court without any testimony being presented.
She remains free on her own recognizance.
Police said Bortz, known as "Gayne," admitted throwing away medication needed for a student in her class after being confronted by school officials who suspected she had failed to administer the drug to the student.
Robbery charge filedagainst man, 22
CRAIG BEACH -- Town marshal Rick Watson arrested Jason A. Dean of Denver Drive on an outstanding theft warrant Tuesday, then filed a robbery charge Wednesday in Austintown county court against the 22-year-old man. Dean is suspected in the robbery of a 74-year-old Craig Beach man who got pushed to the ground during a struggle and suffered head and hand injuries, Watson said. Jackson Township police stopped Dean's vehicle Tuesday morning after its description had been broadcast, reports say. Watson said the victim identified Dean as the man who robbed him.
Children and anger
YOUNGSTOWN -- Hedda Sharapan, a child development specialist, will present a program, "What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel? Helping Children Find Outlets and Inner Control for their Angry Feelings," at 7 p.m. Monday at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane.
Sharapan will also be the keynote speaker at the annual Mahoning Valley Association of Churches prayer breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Maronite Center, 1555 S. Meridian Road.
Sharapan is affiliated with "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," and is editorial consultant for Young Children and the Journal of the National Association of the Education of Young Children, and she writes articles for Around the Neighborhood and family care brochures.
The program at the Jewish Center, sponsored by Tru-Mah-Col Association for the Education of Young Children, is free.
Call (330) 746-3251 for a reservation.