Metro digest

Temporary closing

AUSTINTOWN — Mahoning County engineer’s office will close Turner Road between Gibson and Kirk roads to replace a culvert. Traffic will be detoured along Gibson, Lipkey and Kirk roads. Work begins Monday and is to be completed July 13.

New schools position

BOARDMAN — The superintendent of the Columbiana Exempted Village Schools will become the assistant superintendent of the Mahoning County Educational Service Center effective Aug. 1.

Ron Iarussi, who has served as Columbiana superintendent for the past five years, will succeed Thomas Romack. Iarussi was hired under a two-year contract this week by the MCESC governing board. His salary has not been finalized.

His duties will include human resources and providing informational services to the administrators of school districts in the county.

Iarussi and his wife, Pam, live in Struthers with their sons, Keary and A.J.

Charged in sex crimes

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A Wampum man is charged with sex crimes after two girls spoke to police.

Frank W. Snyder, 28, of Old Route 18, was in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Thursday on four counts of rape, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal attempt at involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts of statutory sexual assault, four counts of indecent exposure, 10 counts of corruption of a minor, eight counts of indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, seven counts of sexual assault and five counts of unlawful contact with a minor.

Snyder was arrested after a 15-year-old reported to Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle that on June 24 and 25 he made sexual contact with his hands and attempted to force her to perform sex acts.

The victim’s 16-year-old neighbor told troopers that Snyder has also abused her on occasions over the past four to five years, beginning when she was 12. She told troopers she was raped and forced to perform involuntary sex acts.

Snyder is in Lawrence County jail with bond set at $75,000.

Auto races at fair

BAZETTA — The wet weather this week has caused three of the four auto-racing events scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at the Trumbull County Fair to be rescheduled for Sunday and a fourth event to be canceled.

The Late-Crate and E-Mod races set for Wednesday night have been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday. The B.R.P. Modified races set for Thursday have been canceled, and the stock-car races set for Thursday have been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday.

Brenda Richman, fair board financial secretary, said the three rescheduled events for Sunday will take place in a mixed way, with some of each being run for about three hours until the start of the demolition derby at 7 p.m. Fireworks are planned at the conclusion of the demolition derby, around 9:45 p.m.

Angel Food Program

YOUNGSTOWN — Crossroads Church, 554 S. Meridian Road, is a host site for the Angel Food Program that helps reduce the amount of money needed for groceries each month. The cost is $30 per signature unit, which includes meats, vegetables, fruit and more worth $75. There are no income restrictions or guidelines. Pre-order, pre-pay with cash, money orders or Ohio direction card.

Orders for July will be taken 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday and July 11 and 13; 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. July 13 is the last day to place your order.

Distribution will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. July 18. For more information, call (330) 544-1064, (330) 799-9988 or (234) 855-0683 or go to www.cometocrossroads.org.

Purchase of church

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Lawrence County commissioners expect to finalize their purchase of the former Second Presbyterian Church soon.

Commissioner Steve Craig, panel chairman, said the county has signed a sales agreement and put a deposit on the 25,000-square-foot building at 439 Countyline St. The church, which closed in April, is next to the county government building, and commissioners now pay $13,500 yearly to lease the basement to store voting machines and use the parking lot.

They plan to convert the three-story building to office space, possibly a courtroom and a public meeting place. The $275,000 purchase also will add 20 parking spaces.