Drunken driving charge

Drunken driving charge
CANFIELD -- A Youngstown woman accused of drunken driving Friday morning apparently thought her relationship to Maj. Michael Budd of the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department would help her avoid the arrest.
It did not.
Police charged Lori Lesko, 29, of Ron Park Place with driving under the influence.
Budd said Lesko is the wife of his wife's son. He added that he had been told that she was arrested. "I can't control if people use my name, but I certainly do not condone that," Budd said.
Police said they pulled over Lesko at about 3 a.m. after she twice drove over the white line on the side of East Main Street near South Hillside Drive.
She pulled out her license and pointed to a business card in her wallet.
The card was from a deputy who works part time at county court in Boardman.
Police asked Lesko what she did for the sheriff's office. She replied, "Nothing. My father-in-law is Maj. Michael Budd."
Lesko then failed field sobriety tests and was arrested.
Traffic grants
LEETONIA -- The police department will use two Ohio Department of Public Safety grants totaling $4,300 to improve traffic enforcement in the village.
Police Chief John Soldano said that because the grants are from the state department of public safety, he can use the money only for programs or equipment related to traffic safety.
Soldano said he plans to use about $2,500 to purchase new radar equipment for two police cars.
The balance of the grant will be used to pay patrolmen and for operating expenses for special enforcement during holiday travel periods.
Swamped with e-mail
AUSTINTOWN -- A South Edgehill Avenue man told police Thursday that someone has used his e-mail address without his permission, and that he has received between 5,000 and 5,500 unsolicited e-mails in recent days.
The computer used to obtain his e-mail address is at a technical college in Milwaukee, the man said.
Crash injures man
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- A New Castle man was in serious condition Friday after an early morning crash on Woodside Avenue.
Ellwood City police said Dwayne Grannis of Bowder Road was traveling east when his car left the road and crashed into a telephone pole. The car then slid sideways into the front porch of a nearby home.
Grannis was flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh.
Dealership plans
AUSTINTOWN -- The township board of zoning appeals is waiting to see plans for a proposed car dealership on Mahoning Avenue before issuing the dealership a conditional-use permit.
Fred Martin Ford Inc. had asked the board for a conditional-use permit for a new dealership on the site of the former Friendly's restaurant at the intersection of Mahoning and Cambria avenues.
The board said it would issue the permit if it approves plans for the dealership.
The plans must be submitted to the board by Feb. 1.
Drug-related reports
CANFIELD -- Police here received two drug-related reports, including one that the mother of a Canfield High School student turned over a box of drug paraphernalia to a guidance counselor.
The paraphernalia included a syringe tip.
The guidance counselor called police. The report does not say who owned the paraphernalia.
Police also arrested a man accused of having a suspected crack pipe in his pocket.
Charles Gallagher, 42, who gave his address as the El Patio Motel on West Main Street, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police said they received a call from the Trumbull County Probation Department at about 3 p.m. stating that Gallagher was wanted in that county for a probation violation and that he was staying at the motel.
Police said they found Gallagher at a pay phone at a West Main Street gas station. Gallagher told police he was using drugs and gave police the suspected crack pipe, reports say.
New Hope partners
YOUNGSTOWN -- New Hope Academy will have a Partners' Day from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the school, 1400 Oak Hill Ave.
Partners, who provide scholarship assistance for pupils at the school, will have refreshments and see a presentation on the Youngstown 2010 revitalization plan before sharing in classroom activities.
Call (330) 743-HOPE for further information.