Cemetery-theft charge

Cemetery-theft charge

LISBON — A Damascus woman is charged with theft in connection with taking $176,000 from a cemetery. Michelle R. Edwards, 40, of Floral Park Drive, took the money from Nov. 3, 2004 through May 1, 2006, authorities say. Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron said she was a bookkeeper and office manager who had access to funds. She worked at Highland Memorial Park on U.S. Route 62 near Beloit, owned and operated by SCI Ohio Funeral Services in Houston.

Dogs find no drugs

POLAND — Four dogs trained to detect narcotics were deployed at Poland Seminary High School on Wednesday morning and found nothing, said Greg Wilson, a township officer and member of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force. Wilson said the school was locked down around 9:05 a.m. while the dogs and their handlers — from Youngstown (two), Boardman and Ohio State Highway Patrol — moved past each locker. The check took about 15 minutes. The dogs also checked vehicles driven by students, Wilson said. Though school officials knew that police and their dogs would be in the school, the students did not. Wilson said most high schools bring in narcotic dogs to sniff lockers and cars twice a year.

Economic justice forum

YOUNGSTOWN — A community economic justice forum is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Union Baptist Church, 528 Lincoln Ave. Topics include creating middle-class jobs for working people, closing the wealth and health gap, and building a black civic participation coalition in Ohio. Among the panelists scheduled to appear is Pierrette Talley, secretary-treasurer, Ohio AFL-CIO regional representative, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. The moderator is Madonna Chism-Pinkard, community relations director for WFMJ-TV 21.

Suspicious house fire

HOWLAND — Fire officials are terming as suspicious a blaze that caused $90,000 damage at the Allen S. Aldy residence at 192 Pheasant Run Road. Assistant Fire Chief Tim Thomas said no one was home when two fires broke out shortly before 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. When they arrived, firefighters saw heavy smoke throughout the structure and flames from a second-floor bedroom and basement area. Thomas placed the damage at $65,000 to the structure and $25,000 to its contents. Bazetta, Vienna and firefighters from the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna provided assistance.

Arraignment postponed

LISBON — The arraignment set for today for a Wellsville man accused of shooting his wife to death has been postponed. Jack C. Amato Jr., 36, of Wellsville, was served with the indictment earlier this month. He will now be arraigned, and have a pretrial hearing, at 10 a.m. March 28. He could face up to life in prison for the shooting that he said was self-defense. Amato had told investigators that he shot Tonia Brundage Amato, 25, as they argued at their home at 1200 Commerce St., Wellsville. Authorities were told of the shooting about 1:40 p.m. July 1, 2007. Police found guns and spent shell casings in the house.

Networking lunch

YOUNGSTOWN — The American Marketing Association hosts its fifth annual Professional Networking and Etiquette Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday in the Ohio Room of Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University. YSU students will have the opportunity to use networking and etiquette skills offered at training sessions earlier in the week. Representatives from accounting firms, hospitals, health-care organizations, banks, nonprofit organizations, manufacturing companies, research organizations and technological firms will attend the event.

Kids Day Giveaway

WARREN — The Warren Family Mission, 361 Elm Road N.E., assisted by Junior Girl Scout Troop 386 and Brownie Troop 313, will have a Kids Day Giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Easter and school clothes, shoes, new spring and winter coats and toys will be distributed. Lunch will be served at noon.