Assault charge filed against Cortland teen

Assault charge filedagainst Cortland teen
SHARON, Pa. -- Police charged Kevin M. Repko, 18, of Kingsville Road, Cortland, with an assault that left a Hermitage man in critical condition in St. Elizabeth Health Center. Repko turned himself in at the police station about 3 p.m. Wednesday after learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Police said he threw a brick that hit Scott Miller, 40, of River Road in the head during a dispute in the 400 block of Grant Street about 4 a.m. Tuesday. Repko was arraigned before District Justice James McMahon, who released him on a nonmonetary bond.
Brookfield school levy
BROOKFIELD -- Voters will see a school levy on the March primary ballot. The board of education agreed Wednesday to seek a 6-mill continuing levy; the decision comes just weeks after voters turned down a 4-mill levy. If approved, money generated would be used for operations in the school district and should let the board avoid making cuts in sports or extracurricular activities, officials said.
Crash involves cops
WARREN -- City police are investigating a traffic crash that sent two Warren Township patrol officers to the hospital. Tom Rush, Warren Township police chief, said patrol officers Jeff Koehn, 32, and patrol officer Scott Jones, 27, were in a police car on Mahoning Avenue around 2:10 a.m. today when it collided with another vehicle. City police are investigating the crash, and no charges have been filed. Rush said he did not know the name of the other driver, and city police say the report is not yet completed. Koehn and Jones were treated at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital. It is not known if the other driver was injured. Rush said the cruiser was demolished.
Niles transit share OK'd
NILES -- City council approved a $21,000 payment from the city's general fund to the Niles Public Transit Fund to cover its share of the shared transportation project. Council agreed to the transfer at Wednesday's meeting. The project, known as the Niles-Trumbull Transit System, is a demand-response system that operates throughout Trumbull County and in portions of Mahoning County. Seven communities in Trumbull County, including Niles, have agreed to pay $1 per resident to fund the program for its first year.
Water rate increasescoming after Dec. 1
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners approved a 2 percent water rate increase for customers in Bazetta, Champion, Howland and Warren townships. The increase, which will be reflected on bills issued after Dec. 1, will cost the average residential customer about 50 cents a month, officials say. The increase was prompted by a 4 percent increase in the amount the county pays for water from the city of Warren.
Liberty levies discussed
LIBERTY -- Trustees are looking to put a 2-mill replacement levy and a new 2.8-mill levy on the March primary ballot. Trustees met Tuesday and agreed to start the process of placing the issue before voters. If it's approved, property owners would pay 48 cents on every $100 value of their homes. The money would be used to provide and maintain vehicles and equipment at the department, as well as to cover salaries and benefits of full-time officers.
Electronics items stolenfrom home in Sharon
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said someone stole 80 DVDs, a PlayStation 2 and a home-theater system from a home in the 500 block of Prindle Street. The burglar entered an unlocked door between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Fire destroys barn
SHEAKLEYVILLE, Pa. -- Firefighters said high winds thwarted their efforts to battle a barn fire on the farm of Thomas and Pam Smith at 187 Osborne Road in Salem Township. Lt. Robert Kitchen of the Sheakleyville Volunteer Fire Department said one end of the large, modern barn was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters reached the scene at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. The wind carried the fire right through the barn, he said, resulting in a total loss.