Desk drawer is dirtied

Desk drawer is dirtied
YOUNGSTOWN -- A cleaning crew at Hillman Middle School on West Myrtle Avenue discovered early Wednesday that someone had defecated in the center drawer of a teacher's desk. The teacher told police that the school was open after a basketball game Tuesday and several classrooms were unlocked. She suspects that's when the person responsible was able to enter the classroom.
The teacher also reported that three pupils wrote vulgarities on her blackboard Dec. 3 but isn't sure if the events are related. She does feel there is an escalation of threats and intimidation toward her, reports show.
Technology grant
YOUNGSTOWN -- The federal government has awarded the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority a $250,000 grant to bring technology to residents.
The money is to establish or operate new neighborhood centers for technology and expand computer centers. The centers will be at Rockford Village and Westlake Terrace. The centers are aimed at improving residents' skills and promoting self-sufficiency.
2 projects approved
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's design review board approved two projects Wednesday:
UTelecommunications equipment on the rooftop of the Stambaugh building downtown for Bechtel Telecommunications. The equipment won't be visible from the street.
UA new fence and facing for U.S. Trading Co., a scrap metal yard at Poland and Powersdale avenues.
Seeking speech coaches
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana High School needs assistant coaches for its speech and debate teams. Teresa Hughes, high school English teacher and speech and debate head coach, told the school board Wednesday that assistants are needed immediately.
Area professionals with theater experience or those with skills in public speaking and presentations such as salespeople or attorneys would be ideal, she said. The speech and debate season involves practice after school or evenings and 12 Saturday debates per year plus national tournaments. Anyone interested may call Hughes at the high school.
Crash injures woman
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lana Schepka of Sexton Street, Struthers, was in stable condition this morning in St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, after a car crash on U.S. Route 224 in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County. Pennsylvania State Police said she was a passenger in a car driven by Judith Schepka, also of Sexton Street.
Police said another driver, Fred Miscimarra of Wildwood Drive, Boardman, lost control of his car on the icy road at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and crashed it into a guardrail. Police said his car then bounced back into the road and hit the Schepka vehicle, which left the road and hit an embankment. Miscimarra's car hit a second set of guardrails.
Miscimarra and his passenger, Norma Miscimarra, also of Wildwood Drive, Youngstown, were treated at Jameson Hospital. Ages of those involved were not available from police. Police said Judith Schepka was not hurt.
Extra cop patrols
NILES -- Police officers will conduct extra patrols through the holiday season, looking for traffic violations on all major routes.
With extra funding from the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, Niles police will also concentrate on reckless drivers and drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The STEP grant is provided through the Ohio Department of Safety, Governor's Highway Safety Office.
Stalking, other charges
GIRARD -- A 40-year-old Girard man is facing a number of charges, including stalking, after his arrest Wednesday night. Philip T. Brink, of Illinois Avenue, was to appear later today in municipal court on charges of menacing by stalking, carrying a concealed weapon, driving under the influence, failure to control his vehicle, having a fictitious license plate and obstructing the plate. He is in the Trumbull County Jail.
The complainant, who also lives on Illinois, told police that Brink had been calling her repeatedly and threatening her life. She called police about 11:30 p.m., telling them that Brink was in his car in her driveway. When police caught up with Brink, he refused to take a blood-alcohol test, had a knife on him and his license plate was covered with plastic.