V&M Star public meeting

V&M Star public meeting

YOUNGSTOWN — A public meeting is set on a potential steel plant expansion that would bring nearly 300 new jobs to Youngstown and Girard.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will accept comments on a draft air permit for V&M Star Steel’s proposed $639 million expansion.

The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Youngstown City Hall, 26 S. Phelps St. Comments will be accepted through Feb. 17 on the draft permit, which sets limits on emissions.

The Ohio EPA will make a final decision on the issue after reviewing public input. A copy of the permit is available online at www.epa.state.oh.us/dapc/permits_issued/235964.pdf.

Rapist gets prison term

YOUNGSTOWN — A 42-year-old Weston Avenue man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping two 8-year-old girls between August 2004 and May 2005.

Raymond Hutter Jr. drew the sentence Thursday from Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Hutter pleaded guilty to two counts of rape after the prosecution removed life sentence specifications from them and dropped two counts each of gross sexual imposition and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

After he leaves prison, Hutter will have to register as a sex offender with the sheriff quarterly for life.

Deployed to Afghanistan

VIENNA — Six members of the 910th Airlift Wing’s Force Support Squadron are scheduled to deploy to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, today for 120 days.

These services specialists are trained to enhance morale, wellness and readiness for personnel in a deployed environment. Their duties are in the areas of recreation, lodging, budget and finance.

Girl, 15, reports rape

HUBBARD — City police are investigating the reported rape of a 15-year-old girl.

According to police reports, a staff member at St. Elizabeth Health Center called police Tuesday saying the teen girl told hospital personnel she had been raped twice by a family member on Sunday and Monday at a North Main Street address.

Baseball field named

GIRARD — City officials here have agreed to name a baseball field in honor of a fallen police officer, and a group of volunteers is hoping to raise money for a marker at the field.

Council agreed to name the largest baseball field in the park “The Mickey Williams Memorial Baseball Field” in honor of Officer Mickey Williams. Williams, a longtime city officer, died of cancer in late December.

Donations can be made the Mickey Williams Baseball Fund at any Farmer’s National Bank location. Additional questions can be directed to Joe Sproviero at (330) 545-1810 or (330) 307-8637.

Woman sought in assault

LIBERTY — Police continue looking for a woman who attacked a 21-year-old woman who was attending the National College on Belmont Avenue on Tuesday.

According to police reports, the attacker walked into the school just after 10:30 a.m. and asked to see the attendee. The attacker asked the woman to step outside to have a word, then, once outside the school, began beating the woman. She also bit the woman’s finger.

CASA volunteers wanted

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County CASA/Guardian ad Litem Program is seeking community volunteers for its spring training class.

Court-appointed special advocates represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in Juvenile Court proceedings. Initially, volunteers agree to 30 hours of training held over six weeks and make a one-year commitment to advocate for one case. Twelve hours of continuing education per year is need to continue as a guardian ad litem.

CASA is a national program that uses the services of more than 55,000 volunteers. Locally, there are 35 volunteers who are involved in the lives of 119 children.

For information, call the CASA office at (330) 740-2239 or www.mccasa.org. The application deadline is March 1.