Man arrested on drug, domestic violence charges

Man arrested on drug,domestic violence charges
BOARDMAN -- Township police arrested a 25-year-old township man after finding drugs in his apartment. Police went to the apartment, in the 7000 block of Market Street, to investigate a domestic violence call.
Dexter Ratcliff was arrested on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and drug paraphernalia and a minor misdemeanor charge of cultivating drugs.
Reports say police found three suspected marijuana plants and an assortment of paraphernalia used to keep the plants alive and growing. Ratcliff, known as Crazy D, is in Mahoning County jail on $2,000 bond.
Official sends in pleaon traffic charge
NILES -- A city official did not appear in court for his arraignment, instead sending a written innocent plea to the charge.
Service Director Don Allen, 74, of John Street, was set to appear Thursday morning in Niles Municipal Court, but he submitted his written plea through Robert Shaker, his lawyer.
Allen is accused of pulling out of the AMVETS parking lot on state Route 169 about 8:30 p.m. Monday and driving into the path of another vehicle.
The driver and passenger of the other vehicle, as well as Allen, were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Reports say Allen refused a field sobriety test. A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 12.
Library reading program
BRISTOLVILLE -- The summer reading program continues July 28 at the Bristol Public Library.
Children in grades one through four can meet at the Bristol Town Hall at 2 p.m. Crafts and activities will be included.
Participants in the fifth- and sixth-grade group should meet at the library July 28, anytime from 1 to 3 p.m., for a "make-it and take-it" craft day.
Story time for children ages 3 to 5 resumes July 31 at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m.
For complete information, call the library at (330) 889-3651. An interpreter for those who are hearing impaired will be provided upon advanced request.
Hermitage hotel robbed
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police said a lone gunman took an undisclosed amount of cash from Sharon's Premiere Hotel at 3200 S. Hermitage Road early today. A clerk in the hotel office heard a noise at the counter and went to investigate, finding a man with a large black revolver taking cash from the money drawer. The clerk ran to notify authorities and didn't see which way the robber fled, police said. The gunman was described as a black male wearing a light gray hooded sweat shirt with the hood pulled up over his head. He also wore a scarf to hide his face, police said.
Forgery, theft charges
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said a transient who had been volunteering at the Second Hand Ministries on North Main Street is accused of stealing about 50 blank checks from the ministry. Eric A. Tarleton, 42, forged 18 of the checks for a total of about $2,300 between June 21 and July 3, police said. Tarleton was arrested on a warrant around 9:30 a.m. Thursday and arraigned before District Justice James McMahon on charges of forgery and theft. Police said he was also on parole on a drug charge. A parole detainer was filed against him, which meant his automatic return to Mercer County Jail without bond, police said.
Petting zoo at Conneauthopes to boost attendance
MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- Operators of a historical amusement park in northwestern Pennsylvania that almost missed opening on time this season because of financial trouble hope that a petting zoo will improve attendance.
Conneaut Lake Park, home to the country's sixth-oldest wooden roller coaster, will allow a contractor to operate a petting zoo as soon as possible despite a humane officer's concern that the animals are being exploited.
LeRoy Stearns, vice chairman of the park's board and a Crawford County humane officer, gave his blessing, since the seasonal park operates only for six weeks. Admission to the petting zoo will be $2, with the park getting 25 percent of that fee.
The park took out two loans and sold a billboard to raise $200,000 needed to open this year after an ownership dispute scuttled initial financing plans. A judge dismissed the claims in February, and Conneaut opened for its 111th season.