Pipe bomb charges

Pipe bomb charges
CLEVELAND -- A Niles man could spend 30 years in prison if convicted of charges of manufacture, possession and unlawful transfer of a pipe bomb.
A federal grand jury has indicted Ralph F. Catone Jr., 21, whose last known address is Williams Street, with the charges, according to Emily M. Sweeney, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Each of the three counts carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. The case is being prosecuted by Robert E. Bulford, assistant U.S. attorney.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case.
Molester gets prison
WARREN -- A judge has sentenced a Howland Township man to 18 years to life in prison. Roy J. Griffith Jr., who was convicted last week of 10 counts of rape and 10 counts attempted rape, was sentenced Tuesday in the courtroom of Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Court officials said Griffith will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years. The victim was a 9-year-old girl Griffith knew.
Niles home burns
NILES -- A fire that caused about $32,000 worth of damage to a home at 318 Grant St. remains under investigation.
The fire broke out shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. The blaze is believed to have started in the living room of the house, owned by Wesley and Donna Elifritz. No one was home at the time.
Cemetery decorations
NILES -- All decorations in St. Stephen Cemetery should be removed before Nov. 5 so leaves may be cleared, according to the cemetery's caretaker. The decorations may be replaced Nov. 19.
Meet the candidates
LORDSTOWN -- The high school will conduct a Meet the Candidates night at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, and it will include candidates running for village council and the school board.
Concert to help shelter
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer Free Methodist Church will sponsor a Make A Difference Day Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at 519 Grant St. The concert, provided by musician Chuck Thorpe and members of the Mercer County Jamboree, will benefit residents of Alternatives for Women: Advocacy, Resources and Education's shelter for the victims of domestic violence.
Those attending the concert are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the AWARE shelter and, after the program, they will be invited to participate in the inventory and packing of all of the items collected.
Those planning to help with that task are asked to bring a snack and a beverage to share with others.
The goal is to attract enough participants to make this "a Mercer community event," said Gail Habbyshaw, project coordinator.
Bridge to be closed
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Williamson Road will be closed to traffic between state Route 18 and Werner Road for bridge repairs Monday through Friday next week. Only local traffic will be permitted.
Westbound traffic should detour south on Route 18, east on Main Street and north on Werner Road to Williamson Road. Eastbound traffic should reverse that detour.
Teen with gun arrested
POLAND -- Township police arrested an 18-year-old township man on a charge of underage purchase of a firearm after responding to his Highland Avenue residence on a domestic dispute call, police reports show.
The teen's father had called police at about 5 p.m. Sunday after he discovered his son sleeping in his bed with a .38-caliber handgun by his side. The father said he took the gun and called police after the two had an argument and the father had asked the son to leave.
The teen told police he purchased the gun from a friend for $250 to protect himself.
Man suffers burns
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Mercer man is in critical condition at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh after suffering burns on about 50 percent of his body.
Police said Mark Thomas Phipps, 36, of Lessburg Station Road was traveling north on Industrial Street at 7 p.m. Monday when his truck left the road and crashed into a tree. Police said the vehicle burst into flames.
Charles Habib of New Castle saw the flames from about 300 feet away and pulled Phipps from the truck, they said. Police say they don't know why Phipps' vehicle left the road.