Home ransacked

Home ransacked
AUSTINTOWN -- The home of a woman whose husband was shot to death on Youngstown's South Side earlier this month has been ransacked. Suzan Howard, 52, of Fountain Square, reported Monday that her home had been broken into between Aug. 21 and Monday, township police report. Her husband, Bruce Howard, was killed Aug. 17.
Blood levels low
CLEVELAND -- Northern Ohio faces potential for a blood emergency over Labor Day if blood collections do not improve. Blood needs traditionally increase over holidays, so the situation may become very dangerous, according to the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Blood Services Region.
Those who are eligible to donate blood are urged to do so immediately. Some hospitals in northern Ohio may have to cancel elective surgeries unless Red Cross collections improve. To donate blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 105 pounds and be in general good health. For information on a blood drive convenient for you, call (800) GIVE-LIFE.
Pit bull is shot
SHARON, Pa. -- Police shot a pit bull running loose near the sewage treatment plant on the Shenango Valley Freeway this morning. Workers at the plant called police at 5:25 a.m. to report two pit bulls in the area.
Police called Shenango Valley Animal Control and went to the scene. However, one of the dogs, a female, became aggressive and bared its teeth, charging at a police officer and a plant worker before animal control arrived. The officer shot the dog once with a rifle, killing it, police said.
The second dog, a male, was captured by an animal control officer.
Sentenced in burglary
WARREN -- A Youngstown man was sentenced Monday to four years in prison after admitting burglarizing a Liberty Township home.
Bradley Park, 37, pleaded guilty in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to a burglary charge.
Jesus essay lawsuit
WARREN -- A lawsuit contending that a 14-year-old Brookfield middle school pupil suffered psychological and emotional damage because he wasn't allowed to write an essay about Jesus has been refiled in Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas.
Atty. Mark Colucci, who represents plaintiff Peggy E. Koehler, of Hazleton Street, on behalf of her son Phillip M. Vaccaro, said he decided to move the case out of federal court because jurors in Trumbull County will be closer to the case.
Koehler's suit says the school refused to allow her son to write about Jesus as a homework assignment on the most influential person in his life.
Toys 'R' Us theft
NILES -- A 22-year-old Austintown woman is to appear for a preliminary hearing later this month on charges she took more than $12,000 from Toys "R" Us.
Sarah Winston of South Raccoon Road was released on $5,000 bond on the theft charge after her arraignment Monday in Niles Municipal Court.
Police say Winston, who worked at the toy store, was fraudulently ringing coupons through the register and pocketing the money. Reports said Winston, who was arrested Saturday afternoon at the store, admitting performing the transaction about four times a week for the past nine months.
Her next hearing is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 18.
Vote on teachers pact
McDONALD -- The board of education will meet in special session at 7:15 a.m. Thursday to vote on a three-year contract with teachers.
A tentative agreement was reached Friday and members of McDonald Education Association, representing 52 teachers, approved the contract the same day.
Negotiators were to meet tonight with nonteaching employees. Treasurer Thomas Radabaugh said those contract talks are progressing.
Route 18 widening work
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Pa. Route 18 widening project will undergo some night work this week. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said motorists should be alert to work beginning at 9 p.m. and ending at 6:30 a.m. today through Friday. That will also mean Lamor Road will be closed at Route 18 tonight only.
Marijuana plants found
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Police said they arrested two men after finding 64 suspected marijuana plants in their car. Justin Walker, 20, of Canal Street, and Jonathan Hovis, 19, of East Ridge Avenue, are charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibitive offensive weapons, criminal conspiracy and criminal attempt. Hovis was still in jail this morning on $50,000 bond, and Walker, on $75,000 bond.
Police said they found the plants when the men were pulled over for a traffic stop at 9 p.m. Saturday.