Bridge closing

Bridge closing
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Covert's Crossing Bridge in Mahoning and Union townships will be closed Monday for a 10-month reconstruction project.
The new bridge is expected to be completed and open to traffic by Oct. 1.
Accused in injury
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A 16-year-old city boy is accused of injuring a female teacher during a fight at New Castle High School. The boy faces charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct in juvenile court, said Matthew Mangino, Lawrence County's district attorney.
Mangino said the boy walked into a classroom Dec. 12 and began to assault another student. The teacher attempted to stop the assault and was inadvertently struck in the right eye, causing an injury that required medical attention. Mangino did not say if the boy faces charges in the fight with the other student.
The 16-year-old was released to the custody of his parents and will have a juvenile hearing in front of Susan Papa, the county juvenile court master.
New Castle police investigated.
Meeting set
LEETONIA -- Village council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at village hall for its 2003 organizational meeting.
Adult education
EAST PALESTINE -- Registration begins Monday at the high school for the winter session of the East Palestine schools' adult and community education program.
Classes in introduction to computers; the Internet, digital cameras, scanners and more; weight training and fitness; beginning golf for ladies; and officiating high school track and field begin Jan. 13.
Classes are 6:30-8:30 p.m. one day a week for six weeks on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday. Cost is $25 for school district residents and $50 for nonresidents.
Registration is taken from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays. Joann Knight, adult education director, advises participants to register early because classes fill quickly.
Blood donations
YOUNGSTOWN -- The American Red Cross wants the public to start the new year off right by donating blood.
In December, donors in other cities helped fill the needs for this area, which was down 2,000 pints from minimum standards, said Karen Kelly, a Red Cross spokeswoman. As of Dec. 30, for example, the inventory of Type O negative blood was 36 pints, when minimum standards is 225 pints. The need for blood increases during holidays because of traffic accidents.
Qualified donors must be 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Only 5 percent of those who can donate actually do so, Kelly said.
Died of injuries
AUSTINTOWN -- Brian Skinner, 26, of North Jackson died in St. Elizabeth Health Center of injuries he suffered in a one-car crash at 2:42 a.m. New Year's Day on Interstate 680, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Canfield post.
A passenger, John Giannini, 31, of Youngstown was in critical condition today in the hospital.
Skinner's vehicle went off the road, struck a light pole, then overturned near Lanterman Road, the patrol said.
Arrest in robbery
YOUNGSTOWN -- The FBI believes it has solved the Dec. 26 robbery at Home Savings & amp; Loan with the arrest of Marlin F. McPeters, 37, formerly of Ohio Avenue.
McPeters, who was picked up Monday at an apartment in Detroit by FBI agents and Detroit police on a warrant issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge George J. Limbert, made his initial court appearance in Detroit on Tuesday.
The bank teller told police that the robber said he wanted to make a withdrawal. When the teller asked for a driver's license, he grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and wrote "Give me money shoot" and handed it to the teller, reports show.
The teller turned over about $3,000, including four marked "bait" bills, before he briskly walked out the front doors of the bank, at 275 Federal Plaza West.
Municipal court records show only an open-container conviction for McPeters in June 2001.
Drive-by shooting
YOUNGSTOWN -- Devon Clemens, 28, of West Judson Avenue told police he was shot in both legs while at the Shell gas station on Oak Street at 9 p.m. New Year's Eve.
Police collected nine casings from the lot.
Clemens told police he saw a car drive by with two men inside who opened fire.
He was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Clemens offered police no motive for the shooting.