Trying night court

Trying night court

NEWTON FALLS — Municipal Judge Lawrence S. Turner says a night court that begins Sept. 27 on a trial basis is an effort to better serve both those who appear before it and the general public.

The judge said that scheduling arraignments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during normal business hours has created delays and scheduling conflicts. At times, the requirement that a defendant be personally present in court results in the loss of a day’s work and possibly jeopardizes employment. The six-month experiment calls for night court to be in session at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, except for holidays and emergencies. No other court business will be conducted other than arraignments, the judge said.

Planning institute

AUSTINTOWN — The Salvation Army will present the 15th annual Estate and Charitable Giving Planning Institute at 10 a.m. Sept. 20 at Austintown Library, 600 S. Raccoon Road. This year’s theme is “Estate Planning Hallmarks: Compliance and Complexity.” Presenters will be Roy Adams and Conrad Teitell, estate and charitable giving experts. The event is geared to attorneys, certified public accountants, financial planners, bank trust officers and anyone interested in protecting and providing assets.

Continuing education credits are available. Lunch will be provided. The program is free, but seating is limited. For registration or more information, contact Dr. David Richie at (330) 270-5999.

Family-oriented event

BROOKFIELD — Brookfield United Methodist Church, corner of Grove Street and Route 7, will sponsor a rally ’round the green from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 9. The family-oriented event will feature games for children, face painting, clowns, balloon animals, children’s books, race and police cars, firetrucks and Angel Food Ministries. There will be quilts, gift jars and jewelry for sale. Music will be presented by Unmerited Favor. Participants should take lawn chairs. Food will be available.

Tunnel being painted

CANFIELD — Beginning Tuesday, the MetroParks Bikeway tunnel will be closed from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. for the painting of the tunnel’s interior. The painting is being done at night so that the bikeway will remain open during the day. The work is expected to take about two weeks.

Temporary closings

LEETONIA — Norfolk Southern Railroad will close the Wilson Street and Washington Street crossings for several days starting Wednesday morning for repair work on the south side of the main tracks.

Funds for burn victim

WARREN — An aluminum can recycling drive will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 13, to defray medical costs for 16-year-old burn victim Douglas Coward of Newton Falls. He was severely injured in a 2004 house fire. Cans can be dropped off at the rear parking lot of Sorrento’s Restaurant, 2488 Parkman Road. So far, 6,184 pounds of aluminum have been collected. For information, call (330) 399-4395.

Training classes

YOUNGSTOWN — Help Hotline Crisis Center, the number to call for information, referrals and crisis intervention, is offering free training classes for people interested in volunteering for the 24-hour Hotline. Classes will meet from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on five consecutive Mondays, Sept. 24 through Oct. 22, and one Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers are asked to make a six-month commitment. For more information, contact Help Hotline at (330) 747-2696.

Gun sales put on hold

HARRISBURG (AP) — A judge ruled Friday that the state police can go forward with a three-day hiatus in gun sales so the agency can upgrade its background check computer system. Commonwealth Court Senior Judge Keith Quigley said he would not intervene, despite being asked to do so by gun dealers and a state lawmaker.

The ruling allows gun sales to stop in Pennsylvania starting at 6 p.m. today. Gov. Ed Rendell said earlier last week the work should be finished and the system back online by Wednesday evening. No gun dealers appeared in court, and Quigley agreed with state police lawyers who argued a gun dealer should not be allowed to testify by phone. That left no testimony to back up the assertion that the shutdown would be costly for the businesses.