Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Mosquito spraying
NILES -- Spraying for mosquito control in the city is set to begin after 6 p.m. June 23. In the case of inclement weather, spraying will take place June 24.
Anyone with respiratory problems should remain inside with the windows closed. All food and pets should be taken inside during spraying.
Agency opens office
WARREN -- Trumbull County Children Services will celebrate the official opening of its satellite office at the Alliance Community Outreach Program Center on Niles Road S.E. from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The office, near Fairview Gardens and Trumbull Homes, will serve clients who can't get to the agency's main office. It also will be used to recruit foster parents and host meetings and classes.
The celebration is open to the public. It will include refreshments and activities and games for children.
Craft displays at fair
BAZETTA -- The Historical Village Association is seeking artisans interested in displaying crafts at the Trumbull County Fair, which runs this summer from July 12 to 18.
The association has six booth spaces for artisans in the replica carriage shed in the historical village portion of the county fairgrounds. Crafts considered historical are preferred.
Apply by June 21 to the association, P.O. Box 46, Fowler 44418.
5 years for manslaughter
YOUNGSTOWN -- John Griffin, whom police described as a drifter, was sentenced to prison for five years Monday in the death of 51-year-old Matthew Saunders of Elberon Street, Salem.
Griffin, 50, had pleaded guilty in March to one count of voluntary manslaughter. Visiting Judge Charles J. Bannon of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court had ordered a background check on Griffin before he was sentenced.
Assistant Prosecutor Robert Andrews said Griffin stabbed Saunders while the two were fighting in the parking lot of a South Avenue bar in December 2003.
Saunders got into his van, apparently to drive himself to the hospital, but crashed along the way on Interstate 680. Doctors discovered during surgery that he had been stabbed. Saunders died at the hospital later that day.
Burglary, assault charges
SHARON, Pa. -- Rose M. Askins, 42, of Roemer Boulevard, Farrell, was freed on her own recognizance following her arraignment on charges of burglary, simple assault and criminal mischief. Askins turned herself in Monday afternoon after learning a warrant had been issued for her arrest. Police said she went to the home of a woman in the 100 block of Buhl Court around 6:30 p.m. Friday and attacked the woman in an apparent dispute over a man. She chased the victim into her house and damaged furniture and assaulted the woman, police said.
Board rehires retiree
COLUMBIANA -- Crestview Board of Education hired Andrus Baltputnis on a one-year contract as athletic director and assistant high school and middle school principal. Superintendent John Dilling said the board accepted Baltputnis' retirement from the positions in April. The one-year contract is for $46,460, which represents 80 percent of his previous salary, with no benefits.
The board also approved moving elementary teacher Margaret Garwood from the Title I program to first grade. Dilling said the addition of Garwood as a first-grade teacher gives the district four first-grade teachers
Church windows stolen
FRANKLIN SQUARE -- Columbiana County Sheriff's Department is seeking information about the theft of leaded stained-glass windows from Franklin Square United Methodist Church.
Anyone who sees or hears of anyone trying to sell a quantity of stained glass is asked to contact the sheriff's department. Deputies responded to the church around 10:50 a.m. Sunday after several members of the church discovered nine stained-glass windows missing from the church. The windows were removed Saturday evening or early Sunday, members said.