Crash investigation

Crash investigation
MESOPOTAMIA -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal car crash that occurred Thursday evening on state Route 87 in Mesopotamia Township.
Michael Schmitz, 33, of Newbury, died when the Jeep Wrangler he was driving went off the road, hit a telephone pole and overturned. Schmitz was thrown from the vehicle, troopers said.
Principal resumes walk
BOARDMAN -- The elementary school principal who's walking to raise awareness of a disease that affects one of his pupils planned to resume his journey at 6:30 this morning.
Michael Notar, principal at Stadium Drive Elementary, left a week ago from Columbus, heading to Boardman Park. By Friday afternoon he was 15 miles outside of Canton, where he stopped for the night.
Notar's walk has raised $40,000 for The Matthew Fund. Matthew O'Nesti, 8, a pupil at Stadium Drive, was diagnosed at 18 months with spinal muscular atrophy, an incurable genetic disease.
The boy's family established the research fund at The Ohio State University.
Consortium withdrawal
AUSTINTOWN -- The township board of education will have a special meeting on 7 a.m. Wednesday to request withdrawal from the Mahoning County School Insurance Consortium.
The board also will accept construction bids for the new middle school building and approve an amended 2004-05 budget. Several resignations also will be accepted from teachers who are leaving the district.
The meeting will be at the board offices, 225 Idaho Road.
Probable electrical fire
YOUNGSTOWN -- A preliminary investigation indicates an electrical problem might have been the cause of a fire that broke out Friday morning at Big A's Drive Thru, 2525 Glenwood Ave.
Firefighters responded within two minutes to an emergency call placed at 9:42 a.m. when passers-by noticed smoke rising from the one-story shop, which was closed at the time. Owner Salah Imeishat arrived minutes later to survey the area after police contained the fire.
Capt. Ray Sanchez of the Youngstown Fire Department said the fire caused between $5,000 and $6,000 in damage.
Aggravated robbery
WARREN -- Kristopher J. Choleva, 32, of Warren, reported an aggravated robbery that occurred early Friday.
Choleva said he was walking in the area of Buckeye and West Market Street when he was accosted by several unidentified men who knocked him to the ground and kicked him before taking an unspecified amount of money.
Choleva had minor visible injuries and was taken by ambulance to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
CPR/AED training class
BOARDMAN -- The American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter, 8392 Tod Ave., will have a CPR/AED for professionals training course from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
The course focuses on anyone looking to take a higher level for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid training, although the course is specifically designed for lifeguards, EMTs and paramedics.
There are no prerequisites for the $56 course. Participants will receive eight hours of training, a participant manual and a professional-level pocket mask.
Call (330) 726-6063 for more information.
Joseph Badger meeting
KINSMAN -- The Joseph Badger Board of Education will have a special board meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the central office, 8317 Main St.
There also will be a special board meeting at 10 a.m. July 5 to conduct interviews and appoint a new board member to replace Paula McGrath, who resigned June 15. To apply for the seat, submit a letter of interest, r & eacute;sum & eacute; and application to William Johnson, treasurer, Attn: Board of Education, 8317 Main St., Kinsman 44428.
Applications can be picked up at the board's central office and should be postmarked no later than June 29.