New schools chief
New schools chief
MINERAL RIDGE -- Douglas Darnall, Weathersfield Board of Education president, said today the board decided to name high school Principal Michael Hanshaw as the district's new superintendent, under a three-year contract from Aug. 1 to July 31, 2007. Hanshaw will be hired at the board's May 19 meeting. He will earn $73,000 a year, which is $5,000 more than current Superintendent Rocco Adduci is now paid. Adduci is leaving the district Aug. 1 to lead the Niles City Schools. Darnall noted that Hanshaw will receive a raise because Adduci was the lowest-paid superintendent in Trumbull County. "Mr. Hanshaw's salary should be consistent with districts our size," he said. He added that by promoting from within, the board expects to save money because Hanshaw's position is also likely to be filled from within the district -- which will leave open another position that is not likely to be filled. Hanshaw has been with the district for about 18 years, and has been a teacher, guidance counselor and an athletics director. Darnall said Hanshaw agreed to complete requirements for superintendent certification by the end of his three-year contract.
Accused of firing gun
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cleveland A. Jackson, 39, of North Truesdale Avenue was arrested Thursday afternoon after witnesses said he shot in the air from his car and fired shots inside his ex-girlfriend's apartment on North Truesdale. Two bullet holes were found in the storm door and two in the living room wall. Police found Jackson sitting on his porch drinking a beer at 3 p.m. and arrested him on a charge of improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation.
Man assaulted in home
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 25-year-old man told police four men he knew, all between ages 23 and 30, assaulted him in his residence in the 800 block of Cameron Avenue after entering through the unlocked front door. The victim, who suffered head, neck and rib injuries, was treated at Forum Health Beeghly Medical Park on Tuesday afternoon. The victim said one of the assailants went back to the car the four men arrived in to get a knife, but others at the scene prevented him from stabbing him with it. One of the assailants threatened the group would return to shoot up the house, police said. The police report doesn't give a motive for the assault or say why the victim waited until Thursday to report it to authorities.
Arrested on drug charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police arrested a 24-year-old man on drug charges when the vice squad raided his residence using a search warrant Thursday afternoon. Darmetrus North of Garfield Street was charged with trafficking in drugs, illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and marijuana possession. Found on a coffee table in the home in 400 block of Garfield were several rocks of suspected crack cocaine, plastic bags, and an electronic scale with suspected crack cocaine residue, police said. Police also found in North's right pants pocket a small bag of suspected marijuana.
Pleads guilty to theft
WARREN -- A 57-year-old woman pleaded guilty to theft after prosecutors said she took about $135,000 from an elderly woman that she knew. Marlene Shamrock of Cortland, who operates Shamrock Med Staffing Inc., entered the plea Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Shamrock told the judge that she pleaded guilty -- but believes she is innocent. She said she pleaded because she believed the case facts could have persuaded a jury to convict her. She will be sentenced in about four weeks, officials said, and could receive up to five years in prison.
Grant for hotel project
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County has received a $470,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development to assist with development of 32 acres in Canfield Township. The funds will help pay for installation of 2,700 linear feet of water and sewer lines, and for flood and drainage improvements to the property. The infrastructure improvements will allow for construction of a Bob Evans Restaurant and a Hampton Inn, just east of the Sheetz service station-convenience store at the corner of South Raccoon Road and Route 224.
The $64 million project is expected to create 74 jobs. The grant is through the state's Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program.
Route 208 road work
MERCER, Pa. -- There will be road work on Pa. Route 208, Barkeyville Road, between Pa. Route 173/Grove City and the Venango County line from Monday through next Friday, weather permitting. Work will include driveway adjustments, paving and cleanup. The work will require some lane closures. Delays may occur, which could cause traffic to back up in and approaching the work areas. PennDOT asked motorists traveling through the construction area to slow down and be alert for changing work zone conditions.