Sidewalk session

Sidewalk session
WARREN -- Councilman John Homlitas, D-3rd, will conduct sidewalk office hours at 9 a.m. Saturday at Kenilworth Avenue and Woodland Street N.E.
Variance approved
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township Board of Zoning Appeals has approved a request for a variance by Charles Anerino of 2789 Anderson-Morris Road to build a new 20-foot-by-44-foot garage and remove the old garage six months after the new construction is complete.
Anerino plans to have the new garage constructed by the end of November.
Sharon woman reportsshe was nearly abducted
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said a 21-year-old city woman reported that a man tried to abduct her as she walked along East State Street.
The victim said she was walking west in the 400 block around 11 p.m. Tuesday when a man in an older white car pulled up and asked her if she wanted a ride. The woman said she declined and the man drove away.
She kept walking and ran into the man again in the 200 block. This time, he was on foot and asked her to go with him. The victim said she refused again and the man pulled a small knife out of his pocket and grabbed her, threatening to kill her.
She said she broke away and ran three blocks to the McDonald's restaurant to call police.
She described her attacker as a white man about 5 feet 4 inches tall with a medium build and dirty blond hair. He wore glasses, an orange hooded shirt and khaki shorts and had a gold earring, she said.
Walk in comfort
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana Schools' Walk Warm program resumes Monday at Columbiana High School. School officials invite adults to walk the high school hallways for exercise out of inclement weather. A measured course is posted for walkers who choose to keep an accurate log of distance.
The building is open for Walk Warm from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session.
Break-ins attempted
SALEM -- Police have received two reports of people trying to enter homes the past two days.
Peter Zeigler of 925 South Ave., said a man attempted to enter his home through a screened window about 10:06 p.m. Thursday. After a brief struggle, the man fled.
Deana Young, East State Street, told police that someone tried to enter her daughter's room through a window at 12:18 a.m. Tuesday. The screen had been removed. Police searched but found no one.
Woman is scam victim
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said an 83-year-old South Irvine Avenue woman was the victim of a theft by deception scam. The victim got a call around 7 p.m. Thursday from a woman purporting to be her niece and asking for $62. The caller said she would send a friend to pick up the money. The victim said a woman came to her door a short time later and asked for the money and took the envelope containing the cash. Police said the woman's niece never made the phone call.
Lincoln Highway program
COLUMBIANA -- Bob Lichty, Director of the Canton Classic Car Museum, will present the history of the Lincoln Highway at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Columbiana Public Library.
Learn about America's first transcontinental highway and enjoy a slide presentation of a cross-country trip along this historic route. Registration is required.
Call the library at (330) 482-5509 for more information.
Man charged in burglary
SHARON, Pa. -- Police charged Daniel M. Taafe, 27, of Warren-Sharon Road, Masury, with burglary and theft in the Aug. 23 burglary of the Side Pocket Cafe at 109 E. Silver St.
Police said Taafe was already in jail on a Sharon charge of illegal use of a credit card when he was charged with the Side Pocket burglary Thursday. He was arraigned and returned to jail.
An undisclosed amount of cash was taken in the burglary.
MRDD contract OK'd
AUSTINTOWN -- The 185-member Mahoning Education Association of Developmental Disabilities Thursday approved a new three-year work agreement with the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
Mary Jo Nagy, spokeswoman for MEADD, a union that represents teachers, therapists and other professionals and support staff at MRDD, said the contract is retroactive to Aug. 31, when the former contract expired.