To be sentenced

To be sentenced
YOUNGSTOWN -- Sentencing will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for Jesse Driver, who was convicted this week of murder for the September 2002 killing of 24-year-old Charles Green of Lansdowne Boulevard.
Under Ohio law, Driver, 27, of West Glenaven Avenue, faces a mandatory life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years for the murder charge, and an additional mandatory three-year sentence for using a firearm.
Voinovich's staff here
YOUNGSTOWN -- Members of U.S. Sen. George Voinovich's staff will meet with the public from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at 242 Federal Plaza West, Suite 401.
Residents are invited to discuss federal legislation or to seek assistance with federal agency casework issues.
Lock up in Howland
HOWLAND -- Police Chief Paul Monroe is urging township residents to lock their car doors and take valuables out of their vehicles.
In the past two days, more than 18 vehicles in the Howland Springs area have been broken into, Monroe said. The chief is also advising residents to lock all sheds and garages.
City wants ruling
WARREN -- The city is asking a judge to vacate or change the decision of an arbitration regarding the way a superintendent in the water distribution plant was appointed.
The case was filed Friday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court and assigned to Judge John Stuard.
An arbiter ruled earlier this year that the city acted improperly when it promoted Michael Thigpen, a member of the Association of Federal State County and Municipal Employees, to the superintendent post.
The arbiter said the position must be awarded to a qualified member of the Warren Management Association rather than an AFSCME member.
David Sferra, a WMA member, filed the grievance that led to the arbiter's ruling.
The city contends the arbiter exceeded his powers in "improperly restricting the city's statutory and contractual rights to conduct an open selection process."
Shelter gets funding
WARREN -- State Attorney General Jim Petro has awarded $22,000 in emergency funding to Someplace Safe.
The money comes at a time when the Warren domestic violence shelter's programs were jeopardized because of severe flooding this summer.
Someplace Safe provides assistance to domestic violence victims in Trumbull County through counseling, support groups, children's activities, legal help, crisis intervention and community education and prevention.
Baby's killing
LISBON -- An East Palestine man was sentenced Friday by Judge David Tobin of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to six years in prison for the Aug. 14, 2000, death of his infant daughter.
Ernest Robinson, 20, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Brooklyn Robinson. The 5-month-old died of head and body injuries.
Robinson pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors, who recommended a seven-year sentence. The maximum penalty is 10 years.
Judge Tobin opted for a six-year sentence and gave Robinson credit for more than 260 days already served.
Indian artifact show
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Historical Society will host the King Beaver Archeology Club's second annual Native American artifact show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The show will be in the Joseph A. Clavelli History Center, 408 N. Jefferson St. There will be numerous personal collections and several demonstrations.
Call (724) 658-4022.
West Nile case
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported a second human case of West Nile virus in Mercer County.
The department said Friday a 24-year-old woman was infected.
An 11-year-old Mercer County girl came down with the virus Aug. 22.
The state doesn't reveal the names or conditions of those who get the disease nor the community in which they live.
PennDOT open house
MERCER, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation maintenance office in Mercer County will have open house from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at 215 N. Maple St.
There will be tours and equipment displays.
Groups are asked to call ahead at (724) 662-5350.