Metro Digest

Severance deal OK’d

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s board of control approved $225,668.73 in severance packages to six ranking police officers who took early-retirement buyouts. The money is for unused sick and vacation time the officers accrued during their time on the force.

The board met Thursday to approve the severance payments. The board still needs to approve a severance package for a seventh officer who also took the buyout.

In exchange for retiring, each of the officers will receive a year’s base salary in five annual payments beginning in 2010.

Illegal-weapons charges

BOARDMAN — An Erie Street man faces two charges of carrying concealed weapons — one for a gun, which is a felony, and the other for a knife, which is a misdemeanor. Tony Olds, 28, is also charged with trafficking in drugs, unlawful possession of a weapon, cocaine possession and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon. He was in the Mahoning County jail. Police stopped the truck he was in Thursday after seeing the driver fail to use a turn signal. Police found the knife, gun and suspected marijuana and crack cocaine in a subsequent search of the truck, the report said.

Veterans outreach

GROVE CITY, Pa. — A veterans outreach is set for 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Post 220, 415 S. Broad St.

Representatives from the Veterans Affairs Health System, Pennsylvania CareerLink and the Mercer County Veterans Affairs Office will be there to answer questions and assist in health enrollment and employment issues. Bring military-discharge papers to serve as a ticket for admission.

2 aggregation issues

POLAND — Township voters will see two issues on the November ballot regarding utility aggregation programs. Trustees this week approved placing the issues on the ballot. One would allow the township to negotiate the purchase of natural gas in bulk and the other would allow the township to negotiate the purchase of electricity in bulk, both through aggregation programs.

Chaney band camp

YOUNGSTOWN — The Chaney High School Band will have camp as it prepares for the start of football season. Participants are to report to the band room from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday next week and Aug. 24-28. Members should enter the school through the Overlook Avenue entrance next to the attendance office.

McDonald’s robbed

WARREN — Two armed men wearing bandannas over their faces robbed the McDonald’s restaurant on Parkman Road. The men entered the restaurant about 12:15 a.m. Thursday through a rear door when an employee returned from taking out trash.

Event at incubator

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will visit the Youngstown Business Incubator at 10:30 a.m. today to announce a new legislative proposal that would increase federal funds for business incubators and expand the number of communities eligible to receive funds.

Brown, a Democrat from Avon, will be joined by Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, Youngstown Business Incubator Director Jim Cossler and Chief Development Officer Julie Michael Smith. They will discuss how the Youngstown Business Incubator fosters economic development in the region, spotlighting two companies based in Youngstown at different stages of development. Jennifer Wexler, co-founder and principal of ERIS Medical Technologies, will discuss the incubator’s formative role in the growth of her business.

Mike Broderick, Turning Technologies co-founder and chief executive officer, will speak to the incubator’s role in his company’s rise.