METRO DIGEST || Daughter found outside house fire

Kitchen fire

WARREN

A kitchen fire was anything but routine for firefighters early Thursday when the occupant of the house mistakenly told firefighters her 12-year-old daughter was inside.

Firefighters arrived at 2:47 a.m. at a Cape Cod-style house at 2883 Randolph St. NW. The homeowner was outside but said her 12-year-old daughter was still inside.

Firefighters conducted three separate searches for the girl before the girl and her grandmother arrived at the home and it became clear no one was still inside, said Ken Nussle, Warren fire chief.

Nussle said it’s not known why the woman thought the girl was inside instead of at her grandmother’s house. “It was a little hairy for a short period of time,” Nussle said.

The fire caused $10,000 to $12,000 worth of damage, mostly to the kitchen, where the fire started. A pot left on the stove started the fire, Nussle said.

Homicide ruling

West Farmington

The Trumbull County Coroner’s office ruled Tuesday’s hunting death in the state-owned Grand River Wildlife Area here a homicide, 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s media partner, reported.

The coroner made the ruling Thursday on the death of 26-year-old Nikolas J. Neric, of Brooklyn, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb.

The brother of the shooter called 911 and told the dispatcher the victim was not wearing bright colors as hunters were required to do. Officials said Neric did not have a weapon on him.

The shooting occurred near state Route 88 and Hoffman-Norton Road, officials said.

Officials in the county prosecutor’s office must weigh the circumstances to determine if any charges will be filed.

Board resignation

VIENNA

Brian Stidham has resigned from the Mathews Board of Education after serving two years of his four-year term. Stidham, 38, is treasurer of the McDonald school district, but emphasized his work in McDonald was not related to his decision.

“I’ve learned a lot from doing both sides, and both have been beneficial, but I’m looking at other opportunities including spending more time with my [10-year-old] son,” Stidham said.

Mathews Superintendent Lewis Lowery said residents interested in filling the vacant board position can pick up applications at the school-board office on Warren- Sharon Road, Vienna.

Road closing

YOUNGSTOWN

Rayen Avenue between West Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be closed through Jan. 20 for a waterline replacement and repair project. Detours are posted.

Tour of mission set

YOUNGSTOWN

The community is invited to tour the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley on Monday.

Raelyn Kish, the mission’s ambassador, will host the open-tour day at the mission’s resident facility at 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations are not required for the tour.

The tour will include the dining hall and kitchen, the sleeping areas, common areas and learning center, Kish said.

The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley has been providing food, shelter and safety here since 1893.

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