Judge denies a retrial in Kos murder case

Judge denies a retrialin Kos murder case
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A former Struthers man convicted of murder was denied a retrial Monday in common pleas court.
Perry S. Ricciardi, 23, was convicted in February in the stabbing death of 12-year-old Shannon Leigh Kos of Youngstown. Her body was found in October 2000 in a culvert in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County.
Judge J. Craig Cox ruled to deny Ricciardi a new trial after Ricciardi's attorney, Dennis A. Elisco, and prosecutors argued their positions in court July 23.
Elisco had vowed to take the case to the Pennsylvania Superior Court if the common pleas appeal was denied. He could not be reached to comment Monday after the ruling.
Ricciardi was sentenced to life in prison in February. Also convicted in the Kos murder were former Struthers residents David Garvey, 22, now serving 20 to 40 years in prison, and William Monday, now serving a life sentence.
Frog-jump competition
LISBON -- The Salem Lions Club will host its second frog-jump competition of the summer this weekend.
The Lions' first frog jump was in Salem. This time the site will be the Columbiana County Fair. The old-time competition is set for noon Saturday at the fairgrounds.
The frog jump is open to children and adult frog owners. Winners are declared based on the total distance a frog covers in three successive leaps.
Cost to participate is $2 per frog for children through age 10 and $3 per frog for owners age 11 and older.
Proceeds will benefit the Lions' efforts to help people with vision problems.
For more information, contact organizer Greg Shaffer at (330) 337-0093.
Dog ruse in robbery
YOUNGSTOWN -- One of two men who said they were searching on Burbank Avenue for a dog struck by their car surreptitiously entered the house of a couple in their 70s Monday afternoon and stole cash and other items from a purse, police said.
The wife had been asleep and her husband was sitting in the garage when a dark car pulled into the driveway, and two men got out to search for the nonexistent dog. While the husband was talking to the passenger, the driver entered the kitchen and rifled through the purse, reports show.
The theft was discovered at 5:05 p.m., shortly after it occurred, when the husband went in to wake his wife. Some of the contents of the purse were found on Bon Air Avenue about 6 p.m.
Library closed for cleanup
HUBBARD -- The public library here remained closed today for storm cleanup.
Flooding damaged the children's room and other lower-level areas.