Seeking early release

Seeking early release
YOUNGSTOWN -- A woman imprisoned for the death of her 11-month-old son has asked a judge to release her early. Janell Thomas, 20, of North Garland Avenue, was sentenced in January by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to three years in prison after being found guilty of reckless homicide. Authorities said Thomas killed Leroy Huff Jr. in October 2001 by repeatedly striking him in the head. Prosecutors do not object to Thomas' being granted early release. She had already served some 13 months in the county jail before being sent to prison.
Veterans' graves tour
YOUNGSTOWN -- A second tour of black Civil War veterans' graves at Oakhill Cemetery will be given at noon Saturday. The tour is free and open to the public. Those interested should meet inside the cemetery at the Soldier's Lot. Steffon Jones, event organizer, said a previous tour did not provide transportation through the cemetery for the elderly and those who had problems climbing the hills. Saturday's tour, he said, will have vans for transporting those individuals.
Open house at landfill
POLAND -- The Waste Management Mahoning Landfill will be hosting an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Mahoning Landfill on state Route 617 in New Springfield. The event is open to the public and will feature guided tours of the facility every half-hour. A free gift will be given to all those in attendance, and there will also be refreshments and a raffle drawing.
Helpful hypnosis
YOUNGSTOWN -- The American Lung Association is offering group hypnosis sessions for smoking cessation and weight control Sunday in the game room of the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane. The smoking cessation session will be at 12:30 p.m., and the weight control session at 1:30 p.m. The fee for each session is $50. For more information and registration, call the association at (800) LUNG-USA.
Leak closes highway
LISBON -- The northbound lanes of state Route 11 between the state Route 154 Lisbon exit and the state Route 344 Leetonia exit were closed as a precaution for about five hours Tuesday when a tanker leaked about a gallon of flammable solvent. The Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped the truck for an inspection around 9 a.m. Tuesday in Elkrun Township and found the leak.
Remembering Sept. 11
LIBERTY -- The township will conduct a Patriot Day Remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the township administration building.
Money for flood cleanup
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township will get $27,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repay 75 percent of the township's financial losses for flooding cleanup this summer. Administrator David Pugh said the township will receive the funds for flood damage costs, which included $5,000 in work that was contracted out; emergency overtime for police, road crews and fire department; and an estimated $11,000 in road and ditch cleaning and repairing.
Surrender after standoff
VOLANT, Pa. -- A 60-year-old man faces multiple charges after an eight-hour standoff with state police. Frederick R. Brown of Freemore Lane surrendered around 10 p.m. Tuesday after tear gas was lobbed into his mobile home. Police said they were called to the home by a 51-year-old woman who said Brown threatened to kill her. Brown apparently barricaded himself in the trailer when police arrived around 2 p.m. He was charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment. He was in Lawrence County Jail.