Air quality advisory

Air quality advisory

YOUNGSTOWN — The Eastgate Regional Council of Governments has issued an air quality advisory in the Mahoning Valley today. People with respiratory or heart disease, children and the elderly should avoid prolonged or heavy physical exertion. High winds over Pennsylvania will limit pollutant dispersion, the council reports. Meanwhile, sunny skies and warm temperatures will prevent pollutants from escaping into the atmosphere.

Stabbing victim dies

YOUNGSTOWN — Felonious assault charges were upgraded to murder Tuesday after a stabbing victim died of injuries that morning. Jeffrey J. Stover, 46, of Concord Avenue, pleaded innocent to the murder of Thomas A. Behnke, 55. Behnke had entered St. Elizabeth Health Center in critical condition after being stabbed in the leg and chest Saturday night. He was a house guest of Stover’s when the two began arguing, police reported. Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly set bond at $500,000.

SR 45 bridge replacement

SALEM — State Route 45 will be closed between Middletown and Calla roads through late August for bridge replacement, the Ohio Department of Transportation has announced. The road closed Tuesday, and the official detour is state Route 165 to state Route 14 to state Route 534 to U.S. Route 224. The bridge to be replaced spans the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek. The $2.3 million project is being paid for by ODOT. The work is being done by BOG Construction Inc. of Ellsworth Township.

Woman, 44, reports rape

YOUNGSTOWN — A 44-year-old woman reported being raped by a stranger at knife-point Monday. The woman reported she was walking past a business on Federal Plaza at about 6 p.m. when she was approached by a man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. The man was wearing a gray sweat jacket, a light blue T-shirt and blue jeans. She estimated his age at about 40. She reported he forced her to walk west to an abandoned Mahoning Avenue building. Inside the building, he punched and raped her, she said. When he was finished, he allowed her to dress and walk away.

Man, 23, shot in hand

YOUNGSTOWN — A shooting victim reported that gunshots forced him to drop his Mountain Dew bottle Monday. The victim, a 23-year-old man, was walking down Garland Avenue near State Street at 10:45 p.m. when he heard two gunshots. One bullet flew past his head, the other pierced his hand — knocking loose his beverage, police reports said. The man told police he had no idea who would want to shoot him. He saw no car pull away and did not see anyone in the area at the time of the shooting. He was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Meeting place changed

NILES — Trumbull County commissioners invite the public to attend their weekly meeting at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Carl Dittmer Hall, United Steelworkers of America, 1265 N. Main Street. Their meetings are usually at the county administration building in Warren.

Superintendent search

HOWLAND — The board of education has begun the process of learning how to search for the replacement for Superintendent John Rubesich. The board Tuesday accepted Rubesich’s resignation effective July 1. He becomes the superintendent of the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center. The board went into executive session to discuss with Anthony D’Ambrosio, superintendent of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center, what it can offer the board in finding a replacement for Rubesich, since none of its members has previously gone through the search process. Rubesich replaces Richard Crepage, who will retire July 1, as ACESC superintendent after 35 years in education.

Failed suicide attempt

YOUNGSTOWN — An inmate in the Mahoning County jail is recovering in St. Elizabeth Health Center after a failed suicide attempt Monday. Jail officials said Shawn Zecher, 34, tried to hang himself with a sheet at about 10:30 a.m. while lunch trays were being served to prisoners. Officials said officers and jail medical personnel responded immediately, taking the pressure off Zecher’s neck and transporting him to the hospital. Zecher was in the jail waiting to be taken back to Carroll County on theft charges.

Artwork reported stolen

HUBBARD — Police are investigating a city woman’s claim that more than $23,000 in valuable art was stolen from her East Liberty Street apartment. Sgt. Jim Taafe said the 18-year-old woman told officers seven paintings valued at about $23,500 were stolen from the home sometime May 27 or May 28. Taafe said the home could not be properly secured because a fight in the home last week left windows broken and doors that cannot be locked.