Man pleads guilty

Man pleads guilty
YOUNGSTOWN -- Edwin S. Scott, 42, of Elm Street, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to two counts of attempted murder. The county prosecutor's office is recommending a 10-year prison sentence on each count. Judge Robert Lisotto delayed sentencing until after a background check and ordered Scott held in the county jail in the meantime.
Assistant Prosecutor Robert Andrews said Scott broke into the Ohio Avenue home of his former girlfriend, Mary Spann, and stabbed her once in the chest in her bedroom in May 1999. He then went to the living room and stabbed Spann's friend, Robert Duke, about 20 times while Duke was on a couch.
When Spann tried to stop Scott from stabbing Duke, she was stabbed a second time in the chest, Andrews said. Spann was 28 at the time and Duke was 33. Both were hospitalized for their wounds but survived. Andrews said authorities aren't sure what caused Scott to attack them.
Awaiting decision
LISBON -- Parties in a dispute over proceeds from a health insurance stock sale are awaiting a judge's decision on the matter. Judge David Tobin of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court heard arguments Wednesday between East Liverpool administration officials and the unions representing the city's safety forces.
The parties are arguing over how to share $711,000 the city received from selling Anthem Insurance Co. stock. The administration wants all the money for the city's general fund. The safety forces unions say they're entitled to at least $232,000 of it because their members helped pay premiums for the health insurance.
Facing multiple charges
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- A Delaware Township man is accused of assaulting several people and threatening to kill one person in the parking lot at Kennedy Catholic High School. Gregory Knauf, 19, of Patricia Drive West was arraigned Tuesday on five counts of simple assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count each of carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a weapon on school property, possession of prohibitive offensive weapons and terroristic threats. Hermitage police said he is accused of bringing a handgun, brass knuckles and knives to the school parking lot March 23 and March 29 and threatening other people. He was arraigned by District Justice Henry Russo and released after posting $10,000 bond.
Assault on Avon lady
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A city man decided he didn't want his Avon order after all. Police said a 42-year-old Beaver Street man is charged with simple assault and harassment after punching an Avon lady in the face. The woman told police the man placed an order Wednesday and came back later demanding his cash back. He became angered when the woman told him the order had already been placed and the money was gone, according to police.
Sentenced in theft case
AUSTINTOWN -- A Lake Milton man has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his arrest involving damaging a soda machine Jan. 1. and stealing four tires and rims.
Bruce L. Mollohan, 20, entered the plea to charges of petty theft and criminal mischief Monday in Mahoning County court here. He was sentenced by Judge David D'Apolito to pay a total of $200 in fines and court costs, serve six months' probation and complete 16 hours of community service. He also was ordered to pay $210 restitution for the tires and rims and given a 30-day suspended jail sentence.
Planting at Gettysburg
GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- The National Park Service is planting shrubs at Gettysburg National Military Park this week in an attempt to restore the battlefield to the way it looked during the Civil War.
National Park Service spokeswoman Katie Lawhon said 16,000 shrubs are being planted in the "footprint of the old thicket." The shrubs will include blackberry, alder, sumac, elderberry and spice bush.
The Park Service removed trees that were planted after the epic 1863 battle and plans to remove more.
"We have promised to preserve 'witness' trees," said Lawhon, who estimated as many as a dozen trees are still standing in the thicket that were there during the Battle of Gettysburg.