Something special

2 local students among18 state essay finalists
COLUMBUS -- Melissa Browne of David Anderson High School, Lisbon, and Richard McCarthy of Ursuline High School, Youngstown, were among 18 finalists in the Ohio State Bar Association's "There Ought to Be A Law" essay contest.
Focusing on how laws are developed, students were to write about a law they believe should be created, taking into account its impact on the community. More than 850 students across the state participated.
Rolling Thunder plansBike Nights in Salem
SALEM -- Rolling Thunder, Ohio Chapter 4, is sponsoring 2002 Bike Nights starting at 7 p.m. Fridays from today through Sept. 27, except May 24, at The Side Door, 530 S. Broadway. At 9 at tonight's event, there will be drawings for a 2002 Indian Chief motorcycle and a four-wheel recreational vehicle and other prizes. Rolling Thunder is a veterans group whose particular interest is MIA/POW issues. Membership is not restricted to veterans, and the public is invited to the Bike Nights. Call (330) 337-8503 for more information.
Stolen checks
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said a Prindle Street woman got a rude surprise when her bank called her Thursday to tell her that a check for $3,500 had been cashed on her bank account. Police said the woman hadn't written the check and, upon examining her checkbook, she discovered that two checks were missing. She told police she believes an acquaintance may have stolen the checks. Only one had been cashed as of Thursday, police said.
Facing various charges
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said a Norfolk Southern freight train had to stop as it came through town around 3:45 p.m. Thursday because there was a man lying on the tracks near the U.S. Route 62 overpass. When officers reached the scene, the man, identified as being 36 years old and homeless, was up and walking away. When confronted, he became combative and was arrested on charges of public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, defiant trespass, resisting arrest, causing or risking a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person.
Police said the train was carrying hazardous materials and the man's presence on the track was a danger to the train.
He was held overnight for arraignment.
Struthers drug arrests
STRUTHERS -- John A. Hall of Center Street was released on a $30,000 bond after being arraigned in Struthers Municipal court on three counts of felony drug trafficking.
Police arrested Hall on Wednesday evening on three outstanding warrants. All the warrants said he was within 1,000 feet of a school during the reported offenses.
In an unrelated matter, Lucas McClintic of Overlook Boulevard was sentenced to six months in Mahoning County Jail and fined $3,000 after he pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of drug trafficking April 22. A judge found him guilty. Police arrested McClintic on April 17.
Joint investigations by the Struthers Police Department and the Mahoning County Drug Task Force led to the arrests of both men.
Sawyer endorsement
RAVENNA -- U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer, running in the six-person Democratic primary Tuesday for the 17th Congressional District seat, was to get the endorsement today of every nonjudicial Democrat elected to countywide office in Portage County.
Sawyer, of Akron, picked up the endorsements Thursday of Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic and Summit County Executive James McCarthy.