Union to vote on report

Union to vote on report
NILES -- Union workers at Fairhaven school and its programs will vote tonight on a fact-finder's report, union officials say.
If the report is rejected, the union's next step would be to approve filing 10-day notification with the Ohio State Employment Relations Board of its intent to strike.
The 270 workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees local 1992 have been working without a contract since Aug. 31.
Union members have twice turned down a tentative agreement approved by the Trumbull Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Board, which runs Fairhaven.
Man faces sex charge
HUBBARD -- City police charged a 45-year-old Hubbard man with having sexual contact with a 13-year-old boy. Harold Nirchi, of Doris Drive, faces a charge of sexual imposition, a misdemeanor. He is in the Trumbull County Jail and will be arraigned today in Girard Municipal Court.
Detective Robert Altier alleged Nirchi and the boy were playing video games Oct. 18 at a downtown restaurant. The boy left on his bicycle and went to a Mock Street carport to get out of the rain. Nirchi showed up on his bicycle. The boy told police he was offered cigarettes to touch Nirchi, while Nirchi said the boy initiated the activity.
The detective explained that a person in a nearby apartment building saw the activity and called police.
Making a difference
BROOKFIELD -- Make a Difference Day will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Brookfield Middle School, where township trustees and pupils will plant bulbs for the spring.
Man reports robbery
YOUNGSTOWN -- A North Bloomfield man who works downtown told police he was robbed of $1,131 at 2:40 p.m. Thursday after cashing his payroll check at National City Bank on Federal Plaza West. The victim said that, as he left the bank, he was approached by a woman and a man in a gray suit who said: "If you know what's good for you, empty your pockets," reports show. Police were told there could have been a gun, but the victim isn't sure. The victim handed over his money and the couple got into a burgundy car and drove off.
Shots fired at home
WARREN -- A resident in the 2400 block of Kenwood Avenue Southwest told police that she was asleep on her couch early today when someone fired a gun through her front window and at her front door.
Police recovered two spent shotgun casings from the street in front of the house.
Intruder in house
WARREN -- An East Market Street resident told police he got out of bed early today to turn off his alarm when he encountered an intruder in the office area of his home.
The intruder fled upon meeting the resident.
Stabbing reported
WARREN -- An Adelaide Avenue S.E. man told police that his live-in girlfriend stabbed him in the chest early today after the two argued.
Frank L. Battee, 52, transported himself to St. Joseph Medical Center. Hospital officials couldn't be reached today about Battee's condition.
Armed robbery
LIBERTY -- An armed robber got away Thursday night with $500 from the owner of Ramz's, a Belmont Avenue clothing store. The owner told police he was locking the door about 7:30 p.m. with the receipts when he noticed a man bent over, tying his shoe lace. The man pulled a handgun and ordered the owner back into the store. He refused and gave the thief the money.
WRTA ridership
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ridership at Western Reserve Transit Authority was up 11 percent in September compared with the same month last year: 133,000 riders this September compared with 117,000 in September 2003, reported Jim Ferraro, executive director, during a regular meeting of the board of trustees Thursday afternoon. Ridership has been steadily increasing over the past year and a half, Ferraro noted.
To better accommodate riders, WRTA will take possession of seven new buses, complete with wheelchair lifts, early next year, Ferraro added. The buses should be on the road by early February.
Fire department awarded
HOWLAND -- The Howland Fire Department was one of 973 fire departments in America, Italy and Iceland to be presented with the 2003 Life Safety Achievement Award by the Residential Fire Safety Institute of Stanton, Iowa. The award recognizes the departments' fire prevention activities.