Brush cleared for Austintown racino

Brush cleared for Austintown racino

AUSTINTOWN

Evidence of development on the land for the Hollywood Casino and Horse Race Track is just brush clearing, according to township officials.

“They’re clearing the land,” said Eric Harris of the Austintown zoning office. “There are no permits for [construction of the racino] yet, but they own the property so they can clear the land.”

Permits will not be issued for the property until the first quarter of 2013, Harris said. Penn National, the company that owns the property, is contracting the land to be cleared.

Security heightened at Boardman schools

BOARDMAN

Township police will have an increased presence at Boardman schools today as a precaution after rumors circulated of possible violence.

“We have not been able to identify the source of the rumors that are going around at the high school or to verify that they’re credible,” said Sgt. Chuck Hillman, the school resource officer.

Hillman said police and school officials met Thursday to plan additional security. “I believe it will be safe [today],” Hillman said.

Sentencing in cruelty

WARREN

A Hamilton Street couple charged with animal cruelty after five dogs and four kittens were found dead at their home Nov. 28 were sentenced to 45 days in jail and five years of probation.

Tiffany Charlton, 30, and her boyfriend, Michael Kelley, 33, pleaded no contest in Warren Municipal Court on Thursday to animal cruelty. Charlton will be given credit for five days already served. Kelley will be given credit for 13 days served. The sentences began immediately.

During probation they must not keep animals and must allow Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County inspections, a league official said. The Animal Welfare League said five dead dogs were found inside the house at 2518 Hamilton St., and four dead kittens were in an animal carrier outside of the house. Another person charged, Randall Charlton, will have a pretrial hearing Jan. 25. He is Tiffany Charlton’s father.

Jewelry theft at mall

BOARDMAN

Police are investigating the theft of jewelry valued at more than $8,500.

Officers were called to LeRoy’s Jewelers in the Southern Park Mall about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

A store manager told them that a shipment of repaired jewelry came to the store Monday but the box was missing when she tried to retrieve the jewelry for customers.

Zoning post open

Mineral Ridge

Weathersfield Township trustees are accepting letters of interest for an opening on the Board of Zoning Appeals to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2015. Letters will be accepted until 4 p.m. Jan. 4 at the township administration building, 1451 Prospect St., or may be emailed to Chairman Steven Gerberry at sgerberry@weathersfieldtwp.com.

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