Appeals court agrees to review Lordi case

Appeals court agreesto review Lordi case
YOUNGSTOWN -- The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to revisit an appeal filed by former Mahoning County commissioner Frank Lordi, who was convicted in 1999 of theft in office.
The court originally declined to hear the case, but changed its mind after Lordi's lawyers asked it to reconsider. The court will consider whether Lordi's trial attorney, Lou D'Apolito, had a conflict of interest and whether there was juror misconduct during the trial, which was in common pleas court.
Lordi said D'Apolito had a conflict because a partner in his law firm had represented one of the people who testified against Lordi.
A common pleas jury ruled in 1999 that while Lordi was commissioner, he had two county building inspectors pick up political petitions while on county time. The value of the time they spent doing that was estimated at $200, which is the basis of the theft-in-office charge. Lordi was released from prison in January 2002 after serving eight months of an 18-month sentence.
Council passes measureson brownfield partnership
STRUTHERS -- City council unanimously passed as emergency measures Friday an ordinance and five resolutions related to the newly announced partnership between the city and Astro Development LLC.
That partnership would redevelop a 46.6-acre brownfield along the Mahoning River, which has been dormant for more than 20 years, and potentially create up to 400 manufacturing jobs. The site to be redeveloped once was occupied by the Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube Campbell Works coke plant.
The measures, which will become effective immediately upon Mayor Dan Mamula's signature Monday, create an economic redevelopment fund by ordinance, authorize a real estate development agreement between the city and Astro, authorize the city to buy the land from the Ohio Central Railroad, transfer money from the city's revolving loan fund for environmental reviews, authorize the city to hire an environmental consultant, and authorize the mayor to apply for Clean Ohio Fund assistance.
Gas leak evacuatesButler, YSU buildings
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Butler Institute of American Art and Youngstown State University's Bliss Hall and Alumni House were evacuated at 3:30 p.m. Friday after an A.P. O'Horo Construction Co. backhoe ruptured a 3-inch gas line, causing a gas leak at Wick Avenue and Spring Street.
Firefighters closed the intersection for about 15 minutes, said John Hyden, YSU facilities director. Construction workers were able to shut off the gas almost immediately at a valve a few feet from the leak, he said. There was no explosion or fire, and there were no injuries.
Just a few people left the YSU buildings, and fewer than 20 people were evacuated from the Butler Institute, a Butler spokeswoman said. Workers from the Liberty construction company were installing underground wiring conduits for YSU buildings under Spring Street when the leak occurred, Hyden said.
Council weighs raises
for members, mayor
LOWELLVILLE -- Village council will have a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the administration building to consider increasing the salaries of the mayor and councilmen.
The mayor's current salary is $3,600 per year. His is a part-time position.
Salaries for councilmen are $1,200. Regular council meetings are held once a month. Members also attend special meetings and committee meetings.
Ohio law forbids changing the pay of elected officials in-term. If the increases are enacted, they would go into effect in the terms beginning after the next election.
Sentenced to 10 years
YOUNGSTOWN -- Nathaniel McKinney, 23, of Tacoma Avenue was sentenced this week to 10 years and one month in prison by U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin in Akron after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possessing three firearms.
McKinney was prohibited from possessing firearms based on previous convictions of possession of cocaine, failure to comply with a police order and preparation of cocaine for sale.
The case was investigated by the Youngstown Police Department and federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Sharon L. Long, an assistant U.S. attorney, as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal gun reduction program.