Lion cub trial

Lion cub trial
YOUNGSTOWN -- The trial in a civil lawsuit to determine ownership of a lion cub, scheduled for Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, has been postponed. Magistrate Eugene Fehr delayed the trial to give both sides more time to submit legal arguments in writing. The case centers around a cub named Boomerang, who is being kept at Noah's Lost Ark, an exotic animal sanctuary in Berlin Township. A Columbus-area man claims to own the cub, which was bought as part of a New York Post newspaper story on how easy it is to buy such animals.
Gun thief sought
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police are searching for a man who ran off with a pistol from a gun shop. They said the man was in Allegheny Outfitters between 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday looking at numerous guns.
He told the store owner his girlfriend was coming with money and he offered a diamond ring in exchange for a gun, which the owner refused.
Police said the man made numerous telephone calls from his cellular telephone while in the store. He eventually asked to a see a Taurus .357 pistol and ran off with it when the owner handed it over.
Police said he is described as a white man, standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 175 pounds, and was wearing blue jeans and a brown stocking cap. He drove off in a burgundy and silver Chevrolet Beretta or Cavalier, they said.
Avian flu outbreak
HARRISBURG (AP) -- State epidemiologists were trying to confirm Monday whether an outbreak of avian flu at a Lancaster County poultry farm involved a live or inactive virus, said Stephanie Meyers, a Department of Agriculture spokeswoman.
The department believes the virus is inactive, because "there's not a lot of sick birds or increased mortality" at the affected farm, Meyers said.
The birds may have been exposed to the virus and generated antibodies, but never become sick enough to spread it to other birds, she said.
Agriculture Secretary Dennis C. Wolff said late Friday it is not likely to be harmful to humans and is a "low threat to the poultry industry."
The strain is a slightly different version of the virus than the H7N2 that was found on two farms in Delaware and in live-bird markets in New Jersey. None of those found in the U.S. so far resembles the H5N1 virus that has jumped to humans and killed at least 18 people in Asia.
Deadline extended
YOUNGSTOWN -- The deadline for submitting applications to Mahoning County Probate Court for appointment to one of several boards, commissions and trusts has been extended until Friday. All applications submitted then will be subject to public review until March 19, after which Judge Timothy P. Maloney will begin making appointments to fill vacancies. Applications are available at the court, located on the first floor of the county courthouse.
Jewish leader honored
YOUNGSTOWN -- Alvin J. Weisberg, director of Jewish Family Services of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, will be honored at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Jewish Community Center.
The local chapters of B'nai B'rith, The Knights of Columbus, The Free and Accepted Masons and the Buckeye Elks will recognize Weisberg at their 26th Annual Brotherhood Night.
Weisberg, of Liberty, has been the director of the social service program since 1983. The program provides counseling and outreach to refugees and the elderly.
The keynote speaker will be Brian Corbin, executive director of Catholic Charities Services and the coordinator of Catholic Health Affairs for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.