Slaying suspect

Slaying suspect
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The man accused of fatally shooting Alfredo Soto, 20, as he walked near his home in the 700 block of Altman Road on Saturday will be in court Friday.
Christopher Herbin, 26, of North Liberty St., was arrested at his home about 24 hours after the shooting at 1 a.m. Saturday.
He's being held without bond in Lawrence County Jail on charges of criminal homicide and recklessly endangering another person and faces a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Friday before District Justice Melissa Amodie.
Authorities have said little about the case, indicating only that the two men knew each other. A motive hasn't been revealed although Matt Mangino, Lawrence County district attorney, said it wasn't a random act of violence.
At least six shots were fired at Soto and he was hit in the arm and chest. He was pronounced dead an hour later in Jameson Memorial Hospital.
Burglary arrest
SHARON, Pa. -- While police were getting a warrant to arrest Mark J. Nichols, they happened to see him standing across the street, talking on a pay phone. The officers, who were in District Justice James McMahon's office, arrested Nichols about noon Tuesday in a break-in earlier that morning at the Medicine Shoppe at 1020 E. State St. Police said the store's video camera photographed him as he broke into the shop and took a variety of prescription drugs. McMahon ordered Nichols 22, of Independence Court, held in Mercer County Jail on $10,000 bond for burglary, theft and receiving stolen property. Sharpsville police also have a warrant for him for car theft.
Demolitions planned
AUSTINTOWN -- Trustees here have accepted a bid from a contractor who will demolish a vacant former church, two vacant houses and a dilapidated garage. Boccia LT Construction and Demolition Co. of Niles will be paid a total of $10,300 by the township for the demolition, which is slated to be complete by Aug. 31. Trustees awarded the project to Boccia at a meeting Monday night.
The structures that will be demolished are: The fire-damaged church at 1249 Mildred Avenue and the home at 6995 Bowman Ave., which will each cost $3,400 to demolish; the home at 82 S. Four Mile Run Road, which will cost $2,300 to demolish; and the garage at 2831 S. Canfield-Niles Road, which will cost $1,200 to demolish.
The cost will be charged to the structure owners on their property tax bills.
Gang member's case
YOUNGSTOWN -- A charge that Thomas D. Moses kicked an FBI agent in the face has been bound over to a Mahoning County grand jury from municipal court. Moses, a member of the Ayers Street Playas awaiting trial next month on gang and drug charges, remains in jail on $50,000 bond. Moses, 29, of Ayers Street, is accused of punching FBI Special Agent Mike Cizmar, a member of the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force gang unit.
Principals appointed
WARREN -- The school board appointed two principals Tuesday.
Karen Clayton, who works for Youngstown City Schools, was named principal of Garfield Elementary School, with a contract beginning Monday and running through June 30, 2004. Clayton's salary will be about $66,667.
Karen Thomas, assistant principal at East Middle School, will replace Kathleen Ciminero who resigned there.
Thomas, whose contract runs for the same period, will earn about $72,000.
The board issued high school diplomas to World War II veterans Matthias Bradley and Orlando M. Vannelli, both of Warren.
Ohio law allows school districts to award diplomas to state residents who left high school to serve in the armed forces, received an honorable discharge and was in the U.S. military between Sept. 16, 1940, and Dec. 31, 1946.