Will vote to support levy

Will vote to support levy
YOUNGSTOWN -- Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, said she would vote in favor of a resolution urging voters to pass a 9.5-mill city school levy on the Nov. 7 ballot. Council failed to approve the resolution at its Wednesday meeting. Rimedio-Righetti didn't attend the meeting because of a family health issue. Council will reconsider the resolution at its next meeting, Nov. 1, six days before Election Day. Rimedio-Righetti said that she'd break the tie at that meeting.
Man beaten with bat
YOUNGSTOWN -- George Price's teeth and blood were found near stairs leading to his Brentwood Avenue apartment around 1:10 a.m. Friday, police said. The 27-year-old man, found lying on a bed bleeding from the mouth, told officers that he had been beaten with a bat and complained that his left arm may be broken. He was in critical condition Friday in St. Elizabeth Health Center. Police said Price gave different versions of what happened, first saying he was hit in the driveway during an argument with a man over a girl, then saying it happened inside the apartment, and finally that it happened "at the corner." A silver-colored bat found at the scene was taken as evidence.
Sobriety checkpoint
A sobriety checkpoint will be held somewhere in Mahoning County from 9 p.m. today until 1 a.m. Sunday. Members of the Mahoning County Operating Vehicle Impaired Task Force will show zero tolerance for impaired drivers and those not wearing safety belts.
2 face drug charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two men were arrested on drug-related charges when police used a search warrant to enter 131 Tod Lane on Thursday evening. Siejuan P. Johnson, 18, of Superior Street was charged with possession of crack cocaine, and Charles E. Scott, 24, of Roslyn Avenue was charged with possession of crack and possession of drug paraphernalia (a scale), reports show. Both were arraigned Friday in municipal court and will be back in court Oct. 30.
Threat on school wall
YOUNGSTOWN -- A bomb threat written on a girls restroom wall Friday at West Side Upper Elementary, North Hazelwood Avenue, will lead to the arrest of one and possibly four pupils, said Ted Terlesky, city schools chief of security. Terlesky said the source of the threat was quickly identified and the school was not evacuated. Those involved may have thought of the bomb threat as a prank, "but we don't," he said. Those arrested will be taken to the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center to face a charge of inducing panic, Terlesky said. The pupils also will be suspended and possibly expelled, he said.
Purse stolen in lot
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 76-year-old woman told police she was robbed of her purse at the Cornersburg Giant Eagle on Canfield Road. The woman said her purse was in the shopping cart at the rear of her car as she placed groceries into the car around 4 p.m. Thursday. She didn't notice the purse was gone until she was about to drive off. She didn't see anyone near the purse but did see a man in a dark jacket and hat in the area. Earlier this month in the store parking lot, a 78-year-old woman was slashed on the chin with a box cutter and had her car and purse stolen. An arrest was made in that case.
Aggravated robbery
WARREN -- A 35-year-old Warren man is scheduled for arraignment Monday in municipal court for using a shoe as a weapon during an armed robbery. Tyrone Dowell of Logan Avenue S.E. was charged Thursday morning with the aggravated robbery of the America's Best Value Hotel, 777 Mahoning Ave., of 421. The clerk told police that Dowell confronted her about 3 a.m. outside the front door of the lobby, pushed her inside and went through the register. On his way out, she said, Dowell took off a shoe and struck her over the head. Police arrested him on Porter Street, and the money was recovered.
Tentative cause of death
MIDDLETON -- A man found dead in a driveway Wednesday may have died of a heart attack, according to Columbiana County Coroner Dr. William Graham. Jeffrey Thompson, 44, of East Palestine, was found beside his pickup truck after authorities received a 911 call at 4:56 a.m. Wednesday. Thompson's body was found outside the mobile home of a friend, Kathy Heddleston, of 6724 Carbon Hill Road. Dr. Graham said the autopsy performed Thursday showed that Thompson had "severe coronary blockage." The coroner said that there was no evidence of trauma and that Thompson may have had the attack and fallen. Dr. Graham said he will wait for toxicology and other test results before ruling on the cause of death.