Business owner enters a plea of innocent

Business owner entersa plea of innocent
YOUNGSTOWN -- Michael A. Mike Jr., the owner of Acme Steak Co., pleaded innocent Thursday at arraignment in U.S. District Court. He is charged with conspiracy to commit food stamp trafficking. Mike is accused of redeeming roughly $117,000 in unlawfully acquired food stamps in 1998. Acme has two locations -- in Youngstown and Austintown. The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, FBI and U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General. Magistrate Judge George J. Limbert set a $50,000 unsecured bond and restricted Mike's travel to northeastern Ohio.
Salvation Army theft
BOARDMAN -- Police are investigating the theft of a Salvation Army kettle from outside the Giant Eagle on Doral Drive. Someone stole the kettle, worth $100, and an unknown amount of donation money inside it about 5:40 p.m. Thursday. Reports don't indicate where the Salvation Army representative on site was when the kettle was stolen.
Theft from vehicle
BOARDMAN -- A 45-year-old Youngstown woman reported the theft of $1,500 in quarters from her car. The woman told police Thursday that someone broke into her car when it was parked in a lot along Market Street and took the money.
Motorcycle veteran plates
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Ohio Senate passed a bill, sponsored by state Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, that allows Ohio veterans to obtain special license plates for their motorcycles. The veteran plates have been available for other vehicles, but not motorcycles, said Dann, D-32nd. The plates would bear an inscription or symbol representing veterans of the armed forces and would display the word veteran. The bill goes to the Ohio House for consideration.
School remained open
YOUNGSTOWN -- Chaney High School students stayed in school Thursday despite interruptions to electricity. Harry Evans, chief of maintenance and operations, said power was partially lost from about 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Because of the problem, the boiler was not operating, but Evans said the school remained warm throughout the day because it had been heated at night and until the 10:30 a.m. disruption. He said students were not sent home because many parents are not at home during the day and the district would have been required to call each parent.
Other disruptions affected the district warehouse and Harding, Taft and Adams schools.
Fire destroys house
YOUNGSTOWN -- High winds -- 55 to 60 mph -- accelerated a fire at 2623 Taft Ave. that destroyed the two-story frame house, said fire Lt. Kevin Johnson. He said the fire, which started in the basement near the furnace Thursday, was accidental. Reports show that the basement was clogged with toys and other items and nearly impassable. The wind fed the fire as if gasoline had been poured on it, Capt. Richard A. Russo said in his report. At one point, firefighters were ordered out of the house for safety reasons. Two adults and three children had lived in the house. No injuries were reported.
Lawsuit against hospital
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Canfield woman has filed a lawsuit against Salem Community Hospital, where she once worked as a pharmacist. The suit, filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, says Natalie Boulos of Muirfield Drive was subjected to daily sexual jokes, inquiries, comments and innuendo while she worked at the hospital as a pharmacist from September 2002 to May 2003. Boulos also says the hospital created a hostile working environment for her after she reported what she believed were violations of state and federal regulations. She is seeking unspecified damages from the hospital and Tod Brunie of Sebring, who was one of her supervisors. A hospital spokeswoman said she was unaware of the suit and could not comment on it because it is pending litigation.
Weathersfield road work
WEATHERSFIELD -- The Trumbull County Engineer's Office will present plans for work on the intersection of Salt Springs and Carver Niles roads from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Weathersfield Township Administration Building.
Work is expected to include repaving the roads, widening and adding shoulders, and installing curbs, underground storm drains and a traffic light.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2006.