MDA telethon total

MDA telethon total

YOUNGSTOWN — The Muscular Dystrophy Association raised more than $300,000 locally during its annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon Monday. Celine Dion, Montgomery Gentry and the Commodores performed at the event, televised by WYTV Channel 33. Proceeds will benefit “Jerry’s Kids,” children stricken with neuromuscular diseases.

OVI checkpoint

The Mahoning County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force will have increased impaired driving enforcement this evening. The task force will set up a sobriety checkpoint in the county from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Sunday.

Bank robbery

CAMPBELL — A lone gunman got away with an undisclosed amount of money from the First National Bank, 355 Robinson Road, after putting a gun to a customer’s head Friday morning. Police reported that the gunman walked into the bank shortly before 9:15 a.m., grabbed the male customer and ordered a teller to hand over cash. There were no injuries. The thief, who escaped on foot, is described as a black man between 25 and 30 years old wearing blue jeans, a striped shirt, a hat and sunglasses.

Liquor option on ballot

LISBON — The Columbiana County Board of Elections on Friday returned a liquor option to the November ballot. Columbiana Foods Inc., doing business as Giant Eagle, 15937 state Route 170, Calcutta, will be able to put two issues before voters: the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages Monday through Saturday and Sunday sales. The board ruled that 10 signatures and other information on the signers of the petition were invalid or illegible, which made them ineligible. After review of the signatures and other information, however, the board ruled the issue had enough valid signatures to go on the ballot.

Motorcycle death

ELKRUN — A Lisbon man died in a motorcycle accident at 8:26 p.m. Thursday on state Route 7 north of Leslie Road. Darwin C. White, 52, of Y Camp Road, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Lisbon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said he was driving north, went off the right side of the road, traveled through a gravel parking lot and hit a metal sign. The motorcycle overturned, and White landed in a wooded area. The crash is under investigation.

Harassment case

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — A Wilmington High School teacher found guilty of harassing a female student had resigned from the Wilmington School District before being charged in the case. Thomas Tomeo, 59, of Volant submitted his resignation effective at the end of the 2006-07 school year on June 30. He was charged with harassment of a 16-year-old student July 18. Tomeo was found guilty of the charge this week before District Magistrate James Reed and fined $421. Kate Baird, assistant district attorney, said the harassment occurred in the high school in mid-March.

Farmers’ Market ending

YOUNGSTOWN — The Northside Farmers’ Market will have its last two markets of the season at 9 a.m. today and Sept. 15 at First Unitarian Church, 1105 Elm St. Produce includes fresh-picked corn, melons, peaches, heirloom tomatoes, zucchini and peppers. There’s also homemade breads and applesauce, canned peppers, pineapple salsa and handmade items such as jewelry.

Home-rule meetings

LIBERTY — Township officials will have four informational public meetings this month and in October. Informational meetings will be at 5 p.m. Monday and Oct. 9 in the township administration building to discuss whether the township should adopt home-rule legislation. The issue will appear on the November ballot. Informational meetings also will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 and Oct. 15 in the township government center, 1315 Church Hill-Hubbard Road, to discuss a 911 telecommunications levy. That issue also will appear on the November ballot.

Man accused of rape

LISBON — A man was ordered held on a $750,000 bond at Columbiana County Jail for reportedly raping a woman he knew. James E. McKahan, 28, of Sprucevale Road, Middleton Township, was arrested about 11:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Sheriff David Smith said McKahan had kidnapped the woman late Wednesday while she was working at a gas station in New Cumberland, W.Va. McKahan reportedly forced her into a car, drove her back to his home, raped her, tied her up and left. The woman was able to escape about 9:44 a.m. Thursday morning, went to a neighbor’s house and called authorities, who arrested McKahan a short time later, the sheriff said.