METRO DIGEST || Phone service restored to Rescue Mission

Phone service restored to Rescue Mission

YOUNGSTOWN

Landline telephone service to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, a homeless shelter at 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, was restored before 6 p.m. Friday, according to an AT&T spokeswoman.

The mission had issued a news release earlier saying service was disrupted Thursday due to demolition activities at the adjacent Westlake Terrace housing project.

Mission officials feared that service would not be restored until Sunday at the earliest. That was a concern because temperatures will be below freezing today and Sunday, and there would have been no way to contact the shelter for service.

The Columbus-based AT&T spokeswoman, Holly Hollingsworth, said the disruption was due to the cutting of a cable.

The mission now can be reached at 330-744-5485.

Hearing set for man in courtroom assault

NEW CASTLE, PA.

A preliminary hearing is set in Lawrence County Central Court for Dennis J. Burk, 43, of New Castle, who is charged with assaulting District Justice Jennifer L. Nicholson after she found him guilty of game-law violations.

After the ruling in District Court in North Beaver Township Jan. 10, Burk walked and lunged toward Justice Nicholson, causing her to fear for her safety, according to a Pennsylvania State Police report. Pennsylvania Game Commission officers intervened, and Burk left the courtroom.

Later, charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and obstructing administration of law or other governmental function were filed against Burk before District Justice Scott McGrath. A warrant was issued, and Burk was arrested Thursday. He is in Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bond.