METRO DIGEST || Chemical spill at Poland High

Jury deliberates

YOUNGSTOWN

A seven-woman, five-man jury went home at 7 p.m. after deliberating for 41/2 hours on Thursday and was to resume deliberations at 9 a.m. today in the aggravated murder trial of Tyrell A. Ravnell in the June 20 shooting death of Christian Blackshear.

Ravnell, 21, of Halleck Street, is charged with killing Blackshear, 19, of Wirt Street, in the Kirwan Homes housing project in Campbell. Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court is presiding over the trial.

Chemical spill

POLAND

Firefighters responded to a small chemical spill at Poland Seminary High School on Dobbins Road Thursday morning.

Around 8:30 a.m., someone was cleaning and knocked over a bottle of Xylene, a clear, colorless liquid that can be very flammable. Students were asked to leave the classroom where the spill was contained, but the building was not evacuated, said township Police Chief Brian Goodin.

“It had an odor to it, and as a precaution, they called the fire department,” he said. “It was determined that it was nothing of any major issue. They used big fans to blow the area out, and fortunately it was by one of the main doors.”

Drug charges

campbell

A man charged with trafficking in marijuana was to appear in court this morning for an arraignment.

Eshone M. Christian, 19, of Youngstown was charged after a traffic stop at 12th Street and Coitsville Road at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday, a police report says.

The report says Christian was going 40 mph in a 20 mph zone. He told the officer who stopped him he does not have a license because it was suspended, the report says.

The officer asked him to step out of his car, and when he did, the officer smelled marijuana. Christian turned over nine small plastic bags of marijuana, the report says. He also is charged with speeding and driving under suspension.

2011 appointments

MINERAL RIDGE

Weathersfield Township trustees have approved a 2011 permanent budget of $5.2 million. Final revenues in 2010 were slightly more, at $5.4 million, outgoing chairman Steve Gerberry said.

Trustees named Keith Mazzupappa to the township zoning commission for a five-year term expiring Dec. 15, 2015.

Craig Callow was appointed to the township board of zoning appeals for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2015.

During its reorganization meeting, trustees named James Stoddard chairman for 2011 and Gerberry, vice chairman. The third trustee is Marvin McBride.

Grant approved

MECCA

The Mecca Township Volunteer Fire Department has been approved to receive a $55,897 grant to purchase 11 new breathing devices with money from the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The program, administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, received 16,000 requests for funding for fiscal year 2010 and will award $390 million.

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