Friday, June 22, 2012
Lease agreements
COLUMBIANA
A new shale-gas lease agreement signed by Columbiana County Commissioner Mike Halleck will bring $3.2 million in to the county’s coffers. The lease is for approximately 550 acres.
21 WFMJ-TV News reports Columbiana County will receive more than $5,800 for each acre, the highest fee ever paid to any government entity. A portion will go in to an escrow account for a lawsuit, some also will go toward repairs to county buildings. Halleck says the county could also receive royalty money once drilling begins.
Pool chemicals explode
Austintown
Township fire crews evacuated several homes as a precaution after swimming-pool chemicals caused an explosion.
The small explosion happened about 10:30 a.m. Thursday at 3448 Briarwood Lane when a bottle of bromine chemicals reacted to sunlight exposure, said Fire Capt. Don Conroy.
“The homeowner had some pool chemicals in the basement, and one of the bottles had a cap blow off. ... Some of the chemicals spilled out,” Conroy said. “We cleared out the houses right around there because it’s very toxic, and there was a strong odor.”
Conroy said the Mahoning County Hazardous Materials team was called in to clean up the spill, and residents were allowed back in their homes several hours later.
“It’s a very toxic substance that causes breathing problems and stuff like that. We didn’t want to take any chances,” he said.
Encampment planned at air reserve station
VIENNA
The 910th Airlift Wing here is hosting 41 Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Ohio high schools for a five-day encampment through Sunday.
The JROTC cadets are ninth- through 12th-grade students at John Marshall and East Technical High Schools in Cleveland; Green High School in Uniontown; and Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren.
About 15 Youngstown Air Reserve Station sailors, Marines and Air Force reservists will volunteer to teach the teens leadership, teamwork, respect for others, and the core values through mentorship training, workshops, physical fitness, and drill and ceremony exercises.
Abduction charge
HANOVERTON
A Columbiana County man is charged with abduction — accused of forcing a shale drilling worker off his property at gunpoint.
21 WFMJ-TV News reports 54-year-old David Bernet was released from the Columbiana County jail after being charged with felony abduction.
The worker apparently showed up at Bernet’s property on U.S. Route 30 in Hanoverton. Bernet told the sheriff’s department he wanted the worker charged with trespassing for failing to give him 24-hours’ notice.
Bernet arrived at the sheriff’s department with the worker — who was dressed in official work attire — and told the deputy, “I caught him trespassing, you deal with it.” But the department began asking questions and after receiving consent to search Bernet’s truck found a loaded .22-caliber revolver along with other weapons.
Bernet was charged with felony abduction.
Mission wins $1,000
WARREN
The Warren Family Mission on Elm Road Northeast did not win a minivan in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good contest, but will receive $1,000 from the auto manufacturer for being one of five finalists in Wednesday’s Facebook voting.
“Thanks to everyone who supported the Warren Family Mission. It was so touching to see the community come together and support us. It also helped to bring more awareness to the Warren Family Mission and it’s service and programs. I can’t thank the community enough for the outpouring of support,” said Michelle Beauchene, director of development and public relations. “We feel honored to have been chosen as a finalist.”
The Wednesday winner was the Central Aroostook Humane Society, a shelter for stray animals in Maine.
Indecent-exposure incident reported
WARREN
Women 21 and 22 years old obtained a license-plate number and called police after a man exposed himself to them while they were washing clothes at a North River Road laundromat early Thursday.
The women said they noticed the man standing in front of the door completely naked at 4:14 a.m. He remained there a few minutes before getting into a beige Chevrolet Astro van and driving away.
A Warren police officer located the van at a residence and talked to the van’s owner, who denied committing the crime.
He was released on further investigation in order to view videotape from the laundromat.
Officer suspended for threat to deputy
WARREN
A corrections officer with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office has been suspended without pay for 60 days for threatening to kill a deputy.
Sheldon Phillips was participating in a training class with the deputy a couple weeks ago when he made the threat in front of a lieutenant with the sheriff’s office, said Sheriff Thomas Altiere.
Phillips was placed on paid leave pending a hearing, at which time Phillips and his attorney agreed to accept the 60 days off without pay, Altiere said.