Student jailed on assault

Student jailed on assault

YOUNGSTOWN — An 18-year-old student is facing assault charges after striking a police officer during an altercation with another student.

According to police reports, Ayesha Cowan, of Brooklyn Avenue, was involved in a fight with a male student during the school day Thursday at Odyssey: School of Possibilities on Commonwealth Avenue. School officials and police tried to intervene. The woman, according to reports, broke free and went after the male student again.

After being restrained a second time and being escorted to a “time-out room,” reports said, the 18-year-old broke free “and with aim and intent punched this officer in the groin.” She was taken to county jail on an assault charge.

Program honors veterans

LORDSTOWN — The History Channel, Time Warner Cable and Lordstown High School are presenting a Veterans Day program at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the high school, 1824 Salt Springs Road.

The public is invited to the event, which will honor veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Bosnia conflict and the Iraq/Afghanistan war.

Ohio Heritage Outreach, an Army National Guard program, will display artifacts from military history, and the veterans present will be honored by the History Channel and Time Warner.

The program will be over in time for those wishing to also attend the event in downtown Warren that begins at 11 a.m., organizers said.

MetroPark posts appointed

WARREN — Trumbull County Probate Court Judge Thomas A. Swift has named two people to fill vacancies on the Trumbull County MetroParks Board.

Stephen Sava of Niles was appointed to a three-year term. He is a lifelong Trumbull County resident and owner of PTNE Telephone and Data Systems.

Bethany L. Gutelius of Cortland was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of another MetroParks board member. Gutelius is a design and project coordinator for Infinity Design Advertising LLC of Warren. She will be eligible for reappointment to a three-year term at the end of this year.

The vacancies occurred because of the retirements of Martin “Jack” O’Connell and Richard A. Darkangelo.

The board maintains six parks and is working to develop several others recently acquired with state grant money.

Flu shots offered to adults

NILES — Adult flu shots will be made available today at the Niles City Health Department. For $20, adults 18 and older can receive the vaccination, without an appointment, between 10 and 11:30 a.m. The health department is located at 34 W. State St. in Niles.

The health department accepts Medicare, Medicaid and Anthem Senior Advantage insurance.

Counties to test road signs

MERCER, Pa. — New federal rules are requiring the replacement of the county’s 700 road signs by 2015. Mercer County Engineer Mark Miller told Mercer County commissioners Wednesday that the federal government is requiring counties to test the reflectiveness of road signs so they’re easily visible to older drivers. He said the reason is concern about the increasing number of motorists over age 60. Miller said many signs in the county are approaching 20 years old and lack the required reflectivity. They cost $25 to $125 apiece. Miller said he’ll begin replacing 100 annually so the cost will not be burdensome in one year.

Cashiers accused of theft

SALEM — Three female cashiers at Home Depot have been fired and charged with theft of items from the store.

They are to appear on Nov. 13 in Mahoning County Court in Sebring: Jamie L. Rockwell, 19, of U.S. Route 62; Jessica Sickelsmith, 23, of Eric Drive, Lisbon; and Megan McCallister, 20, of East Main Street, Washingtonville. A fourth cashier, a man, was fired but was not charged. He will be a witness.

Salem Police Detective David Talbert said Thursday he was contacted by security for the store in Mahoning County. Talbert said the thefts focused on only high-priced items, including vacuum cleaners, air conditioners and chain saws.

Surveillance tapes showed cashiers scanning both large and small items. Then they would electronically delete the line items on the receipt for the expensive items. Talbert said because of the deletions, “The money and the receipts would match.”

The male cashier took only one low-priced item, but the women took in excess of $3,000, he said.

Bedroom fire damages home

YOUNGSTOWN — A fire that started in a bedroom in the 500 block of Madera Avenue on the city’s North Side on Wednesday evening caused $7,000 in damages to the house and contents, the fire department said. No injuries were reported. The resident said he had been using his laptop in the bedroom around 7:30 p.m., stepped out for a few seconds and then heard the smoke detector. The cause is under investigation.

Youth steals gum machine

WARREN — Sparkle Supermarket, 2587 Parkman Road, reported that a juvenile stole a bubblegum machine from the lobby around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. A store manager said the youth got into a newer black sports car after taking the machine.

Youth spinning class begins

YOUNGSTOWN — Warriors Inc. and Youngstown’s North Side Weed and Seed are offering spinning classes from 4 to 5 p.m. on Fridays starting today at the Youngstown Central YMCA, 17 N. Champion St. Seating is limited and 20 bikes are available for students in grades seven through 12.

The purpose of the classes is to educate youth physically, mentally and socially while developing leadership skills and character. For more information or to register, call (330) 783-5440.

Pension fund loses $3.7M

MERCER, Pa. – Problems on Wall Street have resulted in the Mercer County pension fund’s losing $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2008, bringing the losses this year to $7.1 million, county Controller Thomas Amundsen said at Thursday’s county Retirement Board meeting.

Amundsen said there is no cause for alarm; the $40.8 million remaining in the fund is more than adequate to meet the fund’s obligations. So far this year, $1.54 million in benefits has been paid out.

He said the losses are unlikely to impact the county’s 2009 budget because this year’s losses will be averaged with the four previous good earning years.

He added he expects it will take several years to recoup the losses and added, “We are looking at the long term.”