Niles football player faces drug arrest

Niles football playerfaces drug arrest
NILES -- A McKinley High School football player won't return to the field this year after being arrested on a drug possession charge this week.
Eric Ashburn, 17, was arrested Monday at the Gordon D. James Career Center. He is being held at the Trumbull County Juvenile Justice Center.
No information was immediately available about his arraignment date.
Superintendent Patrick Guliano declined to comment because the student is a juvenile.
Police officials couldn't be reached this morning to provide more information about the arrest or investigation.
A school official did say Ashburn has been released from the football team because of the arrest.
Jury finds man guilty on all counts of rape
WARREN -- A jury deliberated two hours before finding a 28-year-old Howland man guilty of 10 counts of rape and 10 counts of attempted rape.
Roy J. Griffith Jr. could receive up to life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
The victim was a 9-year-old girl Griffith knew. He is being held in the county jail under $500,000 bond.
Honoring safety forces
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's safety forces will be honored Saturday at Youngstown State University's homecoming parade.
Police Chief Richard Lewis, Fire Chief John O'Neill and YSU Police Chief John J. Gocala will serve as grand marshals of the parade, which starts at 2 p.m. on Rayen Avenue and proceeds to Stambaugh Stadium.
Greg Gulas, YSU assistant director of student activities, said the event is a way to thank police officers and firefighters for their jobs.
Also participating in the parade will be YSU President David Sweet and his wife, Pat, fraternities, sororities, the YSU marching band and the Campbell Memorial High School flag line.
Mayor proposes new job
NILES -- Mayor Ralph A. Infante has asked city council to consider creation of a part-time emergency management coordinator.
The individual would earn between $200 and $300 monthly. Infante asked council's finance committee to consider his proposal at its next meeting.
The person would coordinate response to any emergency or disaster, the mayor said.
Sam Natoli, service director, said the coordinator would attend county and state emergency management sessions and seminars that other city officials don't have time to attend.
Construction to start for elementary school
MINERAL RIDGE -- Work is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks on a $2 million addition to Seaborn Elementary School that will house a gym and multipurpose room.
Contracts were awarded by the Weathersfield Board of Education at a special meeting Wednesday.
DeSalvo Construction of Liberty won the general contract with a bid of $1.1 million.
Other bids were awarded to Western Reserve Mechanical, Mineral Ridge, $76,256 for plumbing; and Prout Boiler, Heating and Welding of Youngstown, $219,630 for climate control and ventilation.
All bids on electrical work were rejected because of a conflict in the specifications. That work will be rebid, board president Douglas Darnall said.
Funding for the project designed by Ricciuti, Balog and Partners of Youngstown will come from a 1.6-mill bond issue voters approved in November.
City trash reminder
GIRARD -- City residents are being asked by the mayor's office not to put their trash at the curb until 2 p.m. Thursdays for collection Fridays. Residents are also reminded that parking on devil strips or in front yards is prohibited.
Trick-or-treat canceled
LEETONIA -- Because of the recent threats of biological terrorism locally and across the nation, the village will not have trick-or-treat this year. Instead, a committee led by Councilman Dan Valentine is planning a village Halloween party. Valentine said the group will meet tonight and likely opt to enhance the fire department's annual parade and party 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29. Anyone wishing to volunteer or help defray the cost may call him at (330) 427-0808.