METRO DIGEST || MLK lane restrictions

MLK lane restrictions

YOUNGSTOWN

Work on a storm-sewer project by the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority will require lane restrictions on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between the Madison Avenue Expressway and Griffith Street from Monday through next Friday. The road will remain open, but there could be delays at times.

Niles mayor chosen

WARREN

The Central Committee of the Trumbull County Democratic Party has recommended Niles Mayor Ralph Infante fill a four-year seat on the Trumbull County Board of Elections that begins March 1.

The party met Tuesday and selected Infante over former Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien 50- 27. Infante received approval from Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted last month to complete the term Sandra Stabile Harwood vacated in December. That term expires Feb. 29. Husted also has the final say on whether Infante is permitted to fill the four-year term.

Mathews meeting

VIENNA

The Mathews Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday to appoint a new district treasurer. Superintendent Lewis Lowery said the board has been interviewing nine applicants to replace Teri Andrika, Mathews district treasurer since 1997, who retires later this month.

After the treasurer vote, the board will have an executive session to begin interviewing 11 applicants for the board seat vacated by the resignation last month of Brian Stidham. Lowery said the law requires the position to be filled within 30 days of Stidham’s resignation, meaning the board must decide by next Friday.

70-mph limit sought

COLUMBUS

The speed limit on Ohio’s interstate highways would be raised to 70 mph for all vehicles, from the current 65 limit, under legislation being considered in the Ohio House.

House Bill 395 also would prohibit drivers from staying in the left lane on interstates unless they are passing another vehicle. The legislation had its first hearing before the House’s Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.

The legislation would affect only interstates and not state highways or other four-lane freeways.

Ex-mayor pleads

NEWTON FALLS

Former Mayor Pat Layshock entered innocent pleas in Newton Falls Municipal Court on Jan. 26 to two misdemeanor ethics charges.

Retired Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barbara Watson, sitting by assignment by the Ohio Supreme Court, released Layshock on a personal-recognizance bond, meaning he didn’t have to pay anything.

Layshock returns to the court at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 28 for his first pretrial hearing.

Atty. Joseph Fritz, Newton Falls law director, filed the charges based on information provided by the Ohio Ethics Commission, which conducted an investigation of a complaint. Court records indicate the violations occurred Feb. 3, 2009.

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