Toronto trip canceled

Toronto trip canceled
FARRELL, Pa. -- Concern about the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Canada prompted Farrell school officials to cancel a student field trip to Toronto.
The disease, which can be fatal, started in China but has spread to the Western Hemisphere with about 300 cases showing up in Toronto. More than a dozen people have died there.
Richard Rubano, Farrell superintendent, said the high school Peer Mediation/Conflict Resolution Group of about two dozen students had planned to go to Toronto on a field trip. They will be going to the aquarium in Baltimore instead, he said.
Trial in school beating
LISBON -- A May 20 trial date has been set for a 16-year-old charged as an adult in the beating of a schoolmate.
Tommy Hart, of state Route 45, Leetonia, is to be tried on a charge of felonious assault before Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
The second-degree felony carries a maximum eight-year prison sentence on conviction.
Hart has pleaded innocent. Judge Pike has appointed Atty. David Powers of Columbiana to represent Hart.
Hart is charged in a Dec. 10 beating in a Leetonia High School locker room that injured Nicholas Aratari, 14, of Leetonia.
Aratari was hospitalized after the attack and has had to undergo reconstructive surgery to his face, authorities have said.
Sentencing set June 20
LISBON -- Sentencing is set for 1 p.m. June 20 for a Butler Township man convicted in the death of his infant daughter.
Christopher Howells, 29, of Carey Road, pleaded guilty last week to involuntary manslaughter in the May 23 death of 3-month-old Ashton Howells.
As part of a plea deal, the Columbiana County prosecutor's office is recommending a four-year sentence. Howells could receive a maximum of 10 years.
Authorities say he killed the baby by shaking her.
Howells has maintained the child fell from his lap and struck her head on a table.
Gaston's Mill cleanup
EAST LIVERPOOL -- Beaver Creek State Park will have a cleanup day from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers are needed to help with cleaning the Gaston's Mill area as well as some of the trails.
The park's wildlife education center will host an open house that day.
Starting May 3, the center will be open Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. through Labor Day.
Volunteers are needed to help staff the wildlife education center. There will be a volunteer training session April 29.
Those interested may contact the park at (330) 385-3091.
Beaver Creek State Park is off state Route 7, south of Rogers.
No work over holiday
HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said today that all turnpike maintenance and construction will be suspended to provide maximum use of the road during Easter weekend.
Construction and maintenance will stop at 3 p.m. Thursday and resume at 6 a.m. Tuesday, said Joe Brimmeier, turnpike executive director. Additional Pennsylvania State Police also will patrol the turnpike during the weekend.
Good Friday closing
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- The Ellwood City and Slippery Rock offices of Pennsylvania Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th, will be closed Good Friday. The offices will reopen Monday with regular office hours.
Fall from cycle kills woman
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jillian Dunn, 21, of Boardman died after falling off a motorcycle at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on Interstate 680, said Detective Sgt. Rick Hart of the accident investigation unit. Dunn fell off the 2000 Suzuki, driven by Tony Yohn of New Middletown, as it traveled on the freeway under the South Avenue bridge. Hart said the cycle didn't crash and that Dunn just failed to hold on. The driver was not injured.