Sharon man found dead

Sharon man found dead
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Matthew McKenna, who was shot by Sharon police in March, was found dead Friday in his mother's home in Meadville, police said. Officers found nothing to indicate how he died. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. McKenna, 23, of Wengler Avenue, Sharon, was shot in the neck March 20 by a Sharon police officer who responded to a domestic violence call. Police said McKenna tried to run over the officer with his car. McKenna, who had been hospitalized for a few days, had been charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Girl in coma dies
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A girl left in a coma after she nearly drowned in a swimming hole almost six years ago has died. Olena Hodakovsky died of cardiac arrest Friday at an Erie hospital, according to Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook. Olena had been in a coma since July 3, 1998, when she almost drowned in a pond in Girard, Pa., about 115 miles north of Pittsburgh. She was 5 when she wandered away from a family picnic and was found face-down in the water.
Official on unpaid leave
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- City Treasurer Chris Maras officially began unpaid leave as he struggles to get required insurance for his office. Maras, 59, a former city controller and city councilman, has said he will resign from his $48,000-a-year elected office May 31 if he can't get a required $2 million bond. His office collects $69 million in taxes each year for the city, county and school district. Maras was supposed to have the bond -- which protects against theft or loss of money because incompetence or other problems -- when he took office in January, but he has said personal credit problems kept him from obtaining it. Erie school district officials are exploring whether to hire a private company to collect taxes to avoid the problems and save money. The district pays Maras' office $212,000 a year. A court petition filed by District Attorney Brad Foulk to remove Maras is still pending.
HELP group to meet
HUBBARD -- Hubbard Environmental & amp; Land Preservation (HELP) will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the township administration building. HELP is a citizens group against the proposed landfill in the township.
Spring cleanup planned
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- The village spring cleanup will be May 17-21. BFI will pick up extra on the May 18-19, Wolford's on May 20 and WasteTech on May 21. As in the past, no tires, refrigeration units, concrete, paint or hazardous waste will be accepted. Also, no tree limbs over 36 inches in length or over 7 inches in diameter and no batteries will be taken.
Stream Cleanup Day
POLAND -- AWARE (the Alliance for Watershed Action and Riparian Easements), Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and Poland Village will have a Stream Cleanup Day on May 15. Volunteers are asked to meet at the College Street parking lot to Poland Woods to work from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gloves and bags will be provided for the volunteers, and light refreshments will be served. The first 40 volunteers will receive a tree seedling and a T-shirt. Volunteers are asked to pre-register. For more information or to register, contact Heather Moser at Mahoning SWCD, (330) 533-2231, or Kim Mascarella at Eastgate, (330) 779-3800.
Road to be closed
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Engineer's Office will close a portion of Shields Road, between East Newport and Sheban drives in Boardman Township, for replacement of a bridge over Mill Creek. The road will close May 10 and remain closed until Aug. 20. Detours will be posted during that time.