FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS TWO IN FRAUD

Federal grand juryindicts two in fraud
YOUNGSTOWN -- A federal grand jury in Cleveland returned an eight-count indictment against Jeffrey L. Conner, 47, and Peggy A. Lybrand, 50, charging them with bank and mail fraud. The address for both is listed as South Avenue. The indictment, announced Friday, charges that sometime in September 2000, Conner, also known as R.J. Jones, and Lybrand enticed individuals to become involved as officers and owners in various businesses they operated, such as Web Producers Inc.; the Cycle Supply Company; H.D. Afterparts Inc.; and Cycle City Inc. Conner and Lybrand are accused of using the invested funds for themselves. Conner and Lybrand also operated Mar-Philly, a used car dealership on Market Street, until 2003.
Man ruled incompetent
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge says Elbert W. Shuler is incompetent to stand trial for murder.
Shuler's competency hearing was Friday before Judge James C. Evans. Referring to a report by a psychologist with Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeastern Ohio, Judge Evans said Shuler is mentally ill and unable to assist in his defense.
Judge Evans ordered Shuler, 42, of Carroll Street, Youngstown, to undergo treatment at Northcoast Behavioral Health Care Systems in Cleveland.
Shuler was indicted last September on an aggravated murder charge. He is accused in the March 16, 2005, homicide of Harold "Ollie" Shuler, 29, of the South Side. Records don't indicate whether the Shulers were related.
Candidacy in question
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Board of Elections expects to disqualify the candidacy of Anthony Caldwell of Youngstown as a Democratic state central committeeman and as a 4th Ward precinct committee member.
Caldwell circulated the petitions for both positions. But he failed to sign the circulator portion of his nominating petitions, elections board officials say.
The failure to sign that portion is considered grounds for automatic disqualification under state law, elections board officials say. The elections board meets Thursday. Caldwell could file as a write-in candidate for the positions by March 13.
Scam warning
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Department of Health has issued an advisory warning citizens to be on the lookout for a potential scam.
According to callers, a man identifying himself as Frank Williams has contacted them and identified himself as an ODH employee. He goes on to say that 2006 is ODH's 50th anniversary and to celebrate, the agency is offering free health cards and a $1,000 shopping spree to the person on the line. He then asks for the person's bank account routing number for verification.
"This person absolutely does not work for the Ohio Department of Health," said ODH Director Dr. J. Nick Baird.
Baird urged Ohioans who think they have been targeted by this individual to contact the Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Action Line at (800) 282-0515, Baird said.
Open house for seniors
SHARON, Pa. -- The Penn State Shenango Lion Ambassadors will host an open house for current high school seniors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Students will have an opportunity to attend classes, meet with faculty, tour the campus and ongoing renovations and lunch with the Lion Ambassadors. For details or reservations, call the admissions office at (724) 983-2803 or visit them on the Web at www.shenango.psu.edu.
GUARD plans meeting
GIRARD -- Girard United Against Ruinous Dumping will have a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in the St. Rose School gymnasium. The featured speaker will be Douglas Fowler, a professor in the Youngstown State University department of physics and astronomy. Douglas will speak on "Energy and Material Resources."
CPR training offered
BOARDMAN -- The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering eight hours of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation/automatic external defibrillator for professionals. The classes, four hours each beginning Tuesday and concluding Thursday, are from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Davis Family YMCA, across from the Red Cross, 8392 Tod Ave. The cost is $56. To register, call (330) 726-6063.