Interim superintendent

Interim superintendent
COLUMBIANA -- Bob Thomas, retired superintendent of the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, will serve as Columbiana School District's superintendent for the rest of the school year. Thomas lives in Poland. He has worked in the Mahoning County Educational Service Center and had been a teacher and administrator in other Youngstown area schools. Treasurer Lori Posey said Thomas will be paid $35 per hour. Posey said the board of education hopes to name a new superintendent before the start of the 2004-05 school year. Superintendent Patricia Hura died of cancer Oct. 3.
Bliss Hall exhibit
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Adesina student group and the Student Art Association at Youngstown State University will host a showcase "Pr-Ob-E" from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at the gallery in Bliss Hall on campus.
Heather Voris, co-president of both student groups, said the exhibit will feature an 8-foot module that is a replica of a Pittsburgh-based group's proposal to solve homelessness in New York City's Bowery District. It also features a projection system with a 3-D sculpture and drafting plans.
Injured in shooting
YOUNGSTOWN -- Eddie Winphrie, 20, of Bonnie Brae Avenue, was in stable condition this morning at St. Elizabeth Health Center with two gunshot wounds to his left shoulder. Winphrie told police he was sitting in a car in the 1500 block of Hubbard Court when a vehicle pulled up behind about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday and occupants opened fire.
Facing drug charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- Suspected drugs were found on Jason Epps, 18, of Bryson Street, when he arrived at the Choffin II Career Center on East Wood Street Wednesday, reports show. He faces charges of possession of crack and aggravated trafficking in two painkillers.
Three present workshops
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three local women were to present workshops today in Columbus at a caucus for the Women of Color Institute, sponsored by the Ohio Coalition on Sexual Assault and Ohio Domestic Violence Network.
City police Detective Sgt. Delphine Baldwin Casey planned to speak about women of color in law enforcement. She said the workshop will highlight issues that women of color encounter from racism to sexism and how to overcome some of the barriers.
Melinda Gavins, executive director of Sojourner House, a shelter for battered people, was to present a workshop on grant writing, with emphasis on research and drafting.
Jennifer Miller, executive director of Associated Neighborhood Centers, would discuss what impact the HIV/AIDS epidemic has on women of color.
Weapon charge
CANFIELD -- A North Palmyra Road man was arrested Tuesday after police said they found a crossbow in his car in the parking lot of the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center. Michael Hendrick, 34, is charged with conveyance of a weapon on school property. Police said they were checking parking permits in the lot when they noticed Hendrick park his car. Police saw the crossbow on the back seat. They searched the car and found two knives. Hendrick later told police he was in the area to find a place to hunt.
Charged in break-in
AUSTINTOWN -- Police have arrested two men and a boy accused of breaking into Bits Bytes and Pieces on Mahoning Avenue. William Grimm, 21, of Black Oak Lane, Austintown, is charged by police with improper handling of a firearm and felony breaking and entering. Earl Whitlow, 18, of Tyrell Street, Youngstown, is charged with felony breaking and entering. Charges are pending against the boy, 17, also of Tyrell Street. Police responded to an alarm at the stor about 7 p.m. Tuesday. Acting on a tip, police were waiting at Grimm's home when he pulled into his driveway at 8 p.m. with Whitlow and the boy in his car. They searched the car and found two guns and several computer games and parts.
New McDonald fire chief
McDONALD -- Village Council has approved Mike Badilla Jr. to succeed his father as fire chief. Mike Badilla Sr. will remain with the department as a firefighter.
Embezzling charge
AUSTINTOWN -- Police have arrested a Strongsville man accused of embezzling $38,000 from an auto-repair business he worked for at the corner of New and South Raccoon Roads.
Edward Pietruszka Jr., 50, is charged with felony grand theft and felony forgery. He turned himself in to police this morning.
The owner of Auto Service Express told police he noticed some financial irregularities earlier this year and confronted Pietruszka. Pietruszka was then fired.