Medical-marijuana issue clears hurdle

Medical-marijuana issue clears hurdle

COLUMBUS

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says a group seeking to legalize medical marijuana has met initial requirements toward putting the measure before voters in 2012.

DeWine on Friday said the group submitted a fair and truthful statement to describe the issue on the ballot, as well as the required 1,000 valid voter signatures.

The proposed “Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment” faces review by the Ohio Ballot Board before supporters can start gathering signatures that would secure placement on the ballot. Issues require about 385,000 signatures to make the ballot.

Hagan bill seeks to drug-test legislators

COLUMBUS

An Ohio Democratic lawmaker from Youngstown is proposing to drug-test elected officials, in response to a Republican-backed bill calling for drug-testing of welfare recipients.

Rep. Robert Hagan’s bill would require statewide officeholders, legislators, members of Gov. John Kasich’s jobs board and recipients of federal bailout money to pay for their testing for unprescribed pharmaceuticals, illegal drugs and alcohol. Officials testing positive would have to undergo treatment or be booted from office.

Hagan says it’s hypocritical for lawmakers to say they’re protecting taxpayer money by testing welfare recipients for drugs if they themselves won’t submit to testing.

The proposal would also give voters a means to kick state politicians out of office by submitting petitions and holding special elections.

Route 11 ramp to I-80 will close Monday

AUSTINTOWN

Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 announced that the state Route 11 northbound ramp closure to Interstate 80 in the township has been rescheduled to begin Monday. The work was expected to begin Friday. The ramp will be closed for about 30 days for repairs.

Safety group gets $64K

WARREN

The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services has awarded the Trumbull County Safe Communities traffic-safety initiative $64,566 to carry out educational activities in the coming year.

The organization identified impaired driving and lack of motorcycle awareness as being among the areas most in need of education.

Trumbull County Safe Communities will educate motorcyclists and other motorists on being more aware on the roadways and will stress the importance of designated drivers, said Melissa Herlinger, grant coordinator.

The organization annually educates through mock crashes at prom time and takes information on impaired driving to bars, Herlinger said. It also conducts reviews of fatal crashes to identify problem areas.

Schools secretary fired

WARREN

The Warren City Schools Board of Education has fired former secretary Diane Parsons after the district determined that she had not deposited school-related money. The board approved Parsons’ termination earlier this week.

School officials said Parsons failed to deposit money from a scholastic book fair last school year, failed to properly manage or account for petty cash funds last school year, failed to properly manage money collected for the flower and gift fund starting three years ago, and failed to properly manage money for flowers in September 2008.

Parsons did not attend a hearing this week or otherwise respond to allegations against her, school officials said. The missing money was never recovered, school officials said.

2 nabbed in bridge theft

new castle, pa.

State Police have arrested two men in connection with the theft of a bridge from private property in North Beaver Township.

Benjamin Arthur Jones, 24, and Alexander William Jones, 25, both of New Castle, were arrested Friday, police said.

They were charged with criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. They were arraigned before District Magistrate Jennifer Nicholson. Nicholson set bond for both at $25,000. The were taken to the Lawrence County Jail.

The 40-foot-by-15-foot steel bridge, in a wooded area, was stolen from the New Castle Development Corp. sometime in September.

It’s not clear whether the Joneses are related.

OVI case transferred

campbell

Coitsville’s acting fire chief has had his OVI case transferred from Campbell to Struthers Municipal Court.

Chris Manack, 40, appeared in Campbell Municipal Court on Friday morning for a pretrial. But Judge Patrick Cunning ordered the case transferred. Campbell hears cases from Coitsville, but Judge Cunning decided there would be potential for a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety because the defendant is a Coitsville employee.

Manack’s bond, $250, or 10 percent of $2,500, was continued.

Manack was charged with OVI refusal, meaning he refused a breath test, around 3 a.m. July 24 in the township. He was stopped on state Route 616 between Upland Avenue and Villa Marie Road.

Manack has a record in Struthers Municipal Court that includes an August 2010 conviction on a July 2009 OVI charge.

Manack pleaded no contest and was given a suspended jail sentence. He was fined $375. His license was suspended for six months during his case, and he was given credit for the pretrial suspension.

He was ordered to attend an OVI prevention program and put on a year’s probation.

Portage County soldier killed in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON

The Department of Defense says a Fort Bragg soldier from northeast Ohio has died in Afghanistan due to injuries suffered in combat operations.

The government says 39-year-old staff Sgt. Robert Cowdrey of Atwater in Portage County died Thursday in Kunar province.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.

Edward the Moose dies

COLUMBUS

Edward the moose, a popular attraction at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was euthanized Friday after medical treatment failed to improve health problems related to his old age, officials there said.

‘We just came to a point where the animal-care staff and the veterinary care staff agreed it was in his best interest to end his suffering,’ said Dr. Michael Barrie, the zoo’s director of animal health.

“It was a very hard choice to make.” he said. Edward had lived 13 years; moose typically have a lifespan of seven years.

Fewer seek bankruptcy

AKRON

Fewer Ohioans are filing for bankruptcy protection. But don’t be fooled into thinking that means people are better off or that the economy is turning around.

“It’s not necessarily a good sign,” said Keith Rucinski, a U.S. bankruptcy trustee in Akron. “It’s a sign that people don’t have the funds to pursue a bankruptcy or they don’t have the assets to protect.”

Personal bankruptcies dropped 10 percent statewide for the 12-month period ending June 30 compared with the previous 12-month period.

CWRU gets $50M gift

CLEVELAND

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland says it has received a pledge for a $50 million gift, the largest in the school’s 185-year history.

The commitment has come from the Weatherhead Foundation of longtime university booster Albert J. Weatherhead III, who died last month.

The Plain Dealer reports the university also has gotten another, $20 million pledge from a graduate who asked to be kept anonymous.

Case Western President Barbara Snyder announced the donations on Thursday as the school publicly launched a $1 billion fund-raising effort. The campaign has been in a “quiet” phase since it started four years ago and has already collected $663 million.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS