$1,000 for injured cop

$1,000 for injured cop

AUSTINTOWN — A law enforcement motorcycle club has donated $1,000 to the family of an injured Austintown police officer. Blue Knights Chapter 14 of Trumbull County presented a check for Ross Linert to Austintown officer Al Phillips Dec. 2. The check was presented at the McDonald Police Department. Linert was critically burned in a vehicle accident Nov. 11 on North Meridian Road after a woman struck the back of his cruiser and his gas tank exploded. He spent a month on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma in the burn unit of Akron Children’s Hospital. He is now out of the coma and breathing on his own, Phillips said. Linert also is up and walking around and is in physical therapy, Phillips added. A fund for Linert and his family is set up at Home Savings bank. Any branch can take donations. There are two branches in Austintown, at 6030 Mahoning Ave. and 4259 Kirk Road.

Marines being deployed

VIENNA — Thirty Marine Corps reservists assigned to the Landing Support Equipment Co. at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station will be deployed to the Middle East for seven months. The Marines will leave the air reserve station Sunday evening for Camp Lejeune, N.C., where they will receive pre-deployment training. The Landing Support Equipment Co., a part of the 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, will be attached to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force in support of its security mission. The company’s normal mission is to provide material and container handling equipment and organizational maintenance support.

Assault on officer

NILES — A 44-year-old Mineral Ridge man is charged by city police with assault on a police officer. Phillip A. Shipley of Ohltown-McDonald Road appeared Thursday before municipal Judge Thomas W. Townley. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. He remains held with bond set at $5,000. Police reported receiving a call about 10 p.m. Wednesday concerning an unwanted man at AMVETS Post 106 on Main Street. When Patrol Officer Dan Myers tried to remove Shipley, he kicked Myers in the face and stomach, police said.

Charged in stabbings

WARREN — A 23-year-old Warren man is charged with the New Year’s Eve stabbings of two people. Christopher Fitzwater of Mahoning Avenue appeared Thursday before municipal Judge Terry Ivanchak, who scheduled a preliminary hearing for Wednesday on two charges of felonious assault. He is being held in the county jail in lieu of a $50.000 bond. Fitzwater is accused of stabbing Boyd J. Proper, 39, and Kari Lynne Thomas, 21, at their home at 1936 Norwood St. N.W. Police said the couple allowed Fitzwater to sleep overnight and were then awakened by an attack in their bed. No motive for the stabbings has been given, although police reported drugs and alcohol were involved. Thomas was released; Proper remains in serious condition in St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Scholarship benefit

COLUMBIANA — Heartland Christian School is sponsoring “The Big Event” Saturday to benefit the Nick Avery Role Model Scholarship Fund. The event starts at 2 p.m. with a varsity girls basketball game, followed by a junior varsity boys game at 3:30 p.m. and a varsity boys game at 5 p.m. After the games, Chili’s Restaurant in Boardman will provide snacks, and after that there will be a concert by the band, Shudder, at 7 p.m. The games are $3 or can be bought as a package including Chili’s snacks and the concert for $10 at the door.

Trustees reorganize

NORTH LIMA — Beaver Township trustees have named new officers and changed the day and time of their monthly public meetings. Trustees named Ted Lyda chairman and Ron Kappler vice chairman for 2008. The third trustee is Larry Wehr, who was formerly chairman. They agreed to have their monthly public meetings at 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month, beginning Jan. 14. The trustees also adopted a $3.3 million budget for 2008. The spending plan reflects a $138,000 increase over the 2007 budget. Officials said the additional money is needed to cover increases in general operating costs.