Man dies in accident

Man dies in accident

UNITY — Aaron M. Harmon, 24, of East Palestine was killed in a traffic accident about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday on state Route 170 just north of state Route 14 in Unity Township. The Lisbon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said that Bruce Maendel, 52, of Alliance, was driving north in a pickup truck and struck Harmon, who was standing in the northbound lane. It wasn’t clear why Harmon was standing in the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck went off the road and struck an embankment. The patrol said the driver had minor injuries. No charges have been filed.

Ex-school worker pleads

CANFIELD — A former bus mechanic in the Canfield School District pleaded guilty to attempted theft at his arraignment Wednesday in Mahoning County Court here. Lawrence Lynn, 46, of Raccoon Road had been charged with felony theft of items from the district’s bus garage. His charge was amended. Police said Lynn took six tires, two headlamps and a gallon of exterior paint used for buses. They said they found a box of towels and hand and all-purpose cleaner that came from the school district at his house. Lynn, a bus mechanic for 19 years, is resigning, effective Monday. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but the time was suspended. He must pay a $100 fine, and is on a one-year probation.

Boardman band night

BOARDMAN — The Boardman Spartan Marching Band will present its annual band program at 7 p.m. Saturday at the high school football field. Joining the host Spartans will be high school bands from South Range, Leetonia, Canfield, Austintown, Brookfield and West Branch. The cost is $4 for adults and $3 for students. Senior citizens 65 and older get in free.

Road closed for repairs

NEW MIDDLETOWN — State Route 170 in Springfield Township will be closed from 7 a.m. today through 5 p.m. Sunday between Western Reserve Road and Unity Road for culvert repair.

North Side house fire

YOUNGSTOWN — An unoccupied house at 2110 Roche Ave. on the North Side was destroyed by fire around 2 a.m. Wednesday, the fire department said. Fire Capt. Alvin Ware said the resident was not home at the time of the fire. Firefighters listed the damage at $23,000, a total loss. The cause remains under investigation.

Hartford Avenue fire

YOUNGSTOWN — Firefighters who forced their way into 135 N. Hartford Ave. on the West Side around 10 p.m. Tuesday smelled an accelerant and found heavy fire on the second floor that eventually broke through the attic roof. Firefighters said this is the third or fourth time they have responded to a fire at the house. Reports show it is undetermined if the house has been occupied. Damage was set at $25,000.

Teen faces rape charge

YOUNGSTOWN — A 15-year-old Matta Avenue boy was arrested at his home at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday on a rape charge and taken to the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center, police said. When interviewed by police, the boy said a girl he believed was 13 asked him to engage in a sex act. He said they first went to the tunnel of the jungle gym at West Elementary School playground and then she told him she had a better place and led him into the woods, where they attempted to have intercourse. Reports show the South Schenley Avenue girl, who is 11, told police they rode their bikes to the woods at dead end of Bon Air Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and the boy asked her to have sex with him. A witness, a 12-year-old girl with the same address as the boy, told police she watched a part of the sex act in the woods and then went home and told her parents. The 11-year-old girl was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for a rape examination.

Reports of firebomb

NILES — Police are looking for a woman who threw a firebomb that extinguished upon impact at the Royal Mall Apartments. Two witnesses told police they saw a white woman throw a bottle with a burning wick at 132-134 Royal Mall Drive, but it went out. The woman yelled that “all blacks will die” as she ran into a waiting white-colored Cadillac that drove off about 7 p.m. Wednesday. The witnesses told police the same woman fired a handgun several days ago in the complex while saying she would start a race war.

Pet adoption event

LORDSTOWN — The Animal Welfare League Shelter at 545 Brunstetter Road will have an adoption open house through Sept. 15. The hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 12:30 to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.