Fight at Girard school

Fight at Girard school

GIRARD — A teacher at Girard Intermediate School was injured about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday when she stepped in to break up a fight between two female students, police said.

One of the students struck the teacher in the side. One girl was taken to her home by police, and the other was picked up by her father.

Charges may be filed.

Benefit dinner-dance

HOWLAND — Warren YMCA will have a benefit dinner-dance Saturday at Leo’s Ristorante, Market Street.

Donations to the YMCA have been down this year because of the economy, so organization board members and others arranged the event.

Cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 and dancing from 8 to midnight. Motown Sounds of Cleveland will provide the music.

The cost is $40 per person, and a cash bar is available.

The event is sponsored by the YMCA and First Place Bank.

Call (330) 394-1565 for tickets and information.

Awaiting coroner’s report

WARREN — The Trumbull County coroner is awaiting the report of the Ohio State Fire Marshal before determining the cause and manner of death of a 47-year-old man found in his house on Gillmer Road in Warren Township early Nov. 13.

Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk said, however, that Chris Hyler did have lethal levels of carbon monoxide in his system when an autopsy was conducted.

Hyler was found in the upstairs of his house when firefighters fought through smoke to get to him. His body was found partially under the bed.

The state fire marshal’s office said there was no indication of foul play, but the cause of the fire remains undermined until the fire marshal completes its investigation.

The fire was contained to the living room and kitchen area on the first floor.

Holiday food drive

HERMITAGE, Pa. The Shenango Valley YMCA will have a holiday food drive at 6 p.m. Saturday at the 2009 Hermitage Holiday Light Parade.

Donations will benefit the Community Food Warehouse, which provides food to more than 3,000 households in Mercer County.

For more information, call (724) 981-0353.

No environmental threat

SALEM — Two black barrels that apparently fell off a pickup truck did not pose an environmental problem.

The barrels were found Tuesday afternoon in the 400 block of Prospect Street. A test showed that one of the barrels had leaked a fluid that turned out to be hydraulic oil. The second barrel contained rusty water, according to city Fire Chief Jeff Hughes.

Authorities righted the barrels and put protective material around them.

Mike Settles, a spokesman for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, said that it has an “orphan drum” program that collects such barrels. The drums will be picked up soon and disposed of safely, he said.

Misdemeanor theft

NILES — A 27-year-old Pew Street man is charged with misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property after it was discovered several large pieces of aluminum were taken from Frank’s Towing, 331 Robbins Ave.

An officer saw William Geiger walking on Federal Street about 1:10 p.m. Wednesday carrying several large pieces of aluminum.

The owner of Frank’s Towing came to the scene and said the aluminum had come from his business.

Geiger told police he “didn’t think anyone would mind if he took” the aluminum.

Food donations sought

WARREN — Dr. Patrick Ensminger of Trumbull County Chiropractic will conduct his 13th annual holiday food drive at his Elm Road clinic through Thanksgiving.

All food donations brought to the clinic, located next to Panera Bread, will be turned over to Second Harvest Food Bank to help local families during the holidays.

Contributors are asked to donate five or more nonperishable food items. All who donate are entered into a drawing for prizes.

Repealing additional fees

NILES — City council is preparing to repeal two additional $5 license-plate fees.

Councilman Steve Papalas, D-at large, said he has scheduled a finance committee meeting Dec. 2 to discuss rescinding the taxes, which would have taken effect next month. Council enacted the additional fees in October so that it could collect its own revenue if voters approved two countywide $5 license-plate-fee issues that were on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Both were rejected by overwhelming margins.

“[So] we are keeping our promise to repeal them because the county issues lost,” Papalas said.

The repeal would not affect a $5 plate tax in Niles.