METRO DIGEST || Town-hall meeting

Town-hall meeting

BOARDMAN

Mahoning County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board and Coalition for a Drug Free Mahoning County are hosting a town-hall meeting Monday to raise awareness of the epidemic of prescription pain medication and illegal-drug addiction in the county.

The meeting, dubbed “Opiates in Our Backyard,” is at 6:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn, 7410 South Ave.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, drug-overdose deaths have increased in Ohio by 372 percent from 1999 to 2010. State and county experts, including Orman Hall, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, will discuss the epidemic of addiction and overdose deaths locally and in Ohio, followed by a panel discussion.

Continuing-education units are offered. For information, call Brenda Heidinger at 330-743-9509.

Free produce

WARREN

The Warren Family Mission will give out free, fresh produce from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at its 361 Elm Road NE location.

Attack reported

struthers

A woman told police a man who was doing remodeling work at a house on Fourth Street beat her after she refused sex.

The attack happened around 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

The woman said she and friends were invited to the house by two men who were working there.

One tried to corner her by the bathroom, and she fought him off, running to the living room where he threw her on the floor and began to beat her, she told police.

She suffered cuts on her mouth, had bumps on her head, and one side of her face was numb, according to the police report.

Police spoke to two witnesses, who said they saw the man attack the woman.

Indicted for theft

PITTSBURGH

A federal grand jury has charged a New Brighton, Pa., man with selling in Columbiana County, Ohio, the items he paid professional thieves to steal from western Pennsylvania retail stores between June 2008 and May 2010. Terry L. Sempf, 56, sold the stolen goods at the Rogers Community Auction, the grand- jury indictment said. The indictment charges Sempf with conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen goods. If he’s convicted, Sempf faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine up to $500,000, or both, the U.S. attorney said this week. The FBI and New Brighton police investigated.

Guest speakers

north lima

Russ and Ruth Beatty will be guest speakers when Beaver Township Crime Watch meets at 7 p.m. May 22 at Shepherd of the Valley, 9111 Sharrott Road. They will discuss Lifebanc’s program and Russ Beatty’s life-saving experience. Local crime statistics also will be covered.