Student arrested

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.
Drug paraphernalia case
AUSTINTOWN -- A 34-year-old woman was charged with criminal trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia early today after police found her in the back lot of Rebel Lounge on 76 Drive. Police said the woman had a suspected crack pipe in her pants pocket. She is scheduled to appear Monday in Mahoning County Court.
Police at The Mill
AUSTINTOWN -- Township police were called to The Mill Club on South Raccoon Road about 3 a.m. today on a report that someone had passed seven counterfeit $20 bills while the bar was open late Thursday and early today. Police said they were also called to the bar about 2:15 a.m. in response to a fistfight between a 29-year-old Florida man and a 26-year-old Austintown man. No arrests were made.
Grenade found at lake
YOUNGSTOWN -- A live grenade found floating near the shoreline of McKelvey Lake on Thursday evening by a man picking up trash was detonated by the Youngstown Police Department bomb squad. The grenade was inside a plastic trash bag that was inside a plastic margarine container. The man who found the explosive device set it on the ground, then called police. The area was searched by police, including bomb squad technicians Lou Ciavarella and Sam Traficant, and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Once assured that no one was around, Ciavarella and Traficant buried the grenade in a hilly bank, attached blasting caps and detonated it. Judging by the "thunderous report," the grenade had been fully charged, police said.
Batcho assault case
YOUNGSTOWN -- The final pretrial hearing for Mark A. Batcho, 34, of Campbell on an assault charge has been reset to Dec. 19 in municipal court. His lawyer, Jeffrey Limbian, asked for the continuance. A new jury trial date will be set later. Batcho is accused of assaulting an inmate while both were confined in the Mahoning County Jail. Batcho is now at the Lorain Correctional Institution, serving an 18-year prison term for trying to kill Prosecutor Paul J. Gains in December 1996 and for wounding Atty. Gary L. Van Brocklin. Batcho is also awaiting trial on unrelated charges of aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity in the slaying of a Boardman businessman.
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. 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 Dr. Bajaj, her family doctor, on July 27 for a foot ailment. She alleged that during the examination, he kissed and fondled her.
Consumer agency
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.