Couple pleads innocent in pig-attack case

Couple pleads innocentin pig-attack case
BROOKFIELD -- A Brookfield Township couple pleaded innocent Thursday to an accusation that they failed to confine their pig, which attacked a man.
Dan and Christa Bielobockie of North Albright-McKay Road are charged with having an animal at large. They appeared in Trumbull County Eastern District Court. No trial date was set.
"PiggyBaby" reportedly attacked Joseph Zagorec in the back yard of his Warren-Sharon Road home Aug. 25.
Zagorec told authorities it took 28 stitches to close his wounds.
Niles house fire
NILES -- Damage has been set at $15,000 in a Fenton Street house fire.
Firefighters said unattended cooking caused the blaze about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
The home is owned by Debra Stilson.
Police chase cyclist
LORDSTOWN -- A police officer chased a 62-year-old motorcyclist from Salt Springs Road into Warren on Thursday evening.
Police Chief William Catlin said the officer tried to stop the cyclist, who was traveling about 60 mph in a 35 mph zone.
The motorcyclist, a Niles man, stopped at Fulton and Main streets in Warren. The speed of the chase isn't indicated on the report, but Catlin said it didn't reach excessive speed.
Charges of speeding and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer were expected to be filed today in Newton Falls Municipal Court, and the man is to appear in court Monday, the chief said.
Police take plants
WARREN -- Police confiscated 35 suspected marijuana plants from a home at 1761 North Park Ave.
Police also took growing lights and a book "Marijuana Botany" from the home.
No arrests had been made as of this morning.
Arena plan manager
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Civic Center Development Corp. board is reviewing proposals from seven applicants seeking to be project manager.
The manager would oversee planning and construction of the downtown arena, and would be an independent contractor working in the board's offices on the second floor of the city-owned Wick Building. The application deadline was Saturday. At Thursday's board meeting, Atty. Len Schiavone, board chairman, said the board intends to hire a project manager before the end of the year.
The applicants are: Bob Crosby of Warren; Nathan L. Queener of Millennium Data Systems of Youngstown; Bentley Lenhoff of Liberty Township; Joseph Romano of Compass Facility Management Inc. of Ames, Iowa; Michael Craig Enoch of Henderson, Nev.; Andrew Matthey of Cincinnati; and The Gateway Group of Cleveland.
Doctor accused
LISBON -- An East Liverpool doctor is free on bond after pleading innocent to an accusation that he fondled a patient.
Dr. Anil Bajaj, 38, of Lakeview Circle, East Liverpool, was arraigned Thursday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court on a sexual battery charge. A 21-year-old patient told authorities that she went to Bajaj, her family doctor, on July 27 for a foot ailment. She alleged that during the examination, he kissed and fondled her.
Student arrested
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 19-year-old student involved in a fight with another female student at Chaney High School was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with assault on a teacher.
Police and school administrators responded to the 1:55 p.m. episode in which the female teacher was shoved against a wall and punched twice in the face while trying to break up the fight. The other student involved in the fracas "will be taken care of by school rules," the police report said.
Consumer agencycuts back services
SHARON, Pa. -- Area residents seeking help with a consumer complaint no longer have local assistance to resolve any dispute.
The Mercer County Community Action Agency is no longer mediating consumer complaints, said Ronald J. Errett, chief executive officer.
All complaints will now be referred to the proper state or national organization for handling, he said Thursday.
Funding cutbacks and program reorganization are responsible for the elimination of the agency's service, he said.
The agency will still advise anyone with a complaint and explain their options but it won't attempt to resolve the matter, he said.
The agency will continue with its consumer education efforts with its monthly radio show on WPIC, its speaking engagements and its monthly newspaper articles, Errett said.