Grand jury gets booster club case

Grand jury gets booster club case

NILES

James Mullen III, the ex-president of a Niles football booster club accused of stealing more than $21,000 from the organization, has been bound over to the Trumbull County grand jury on a felony theft charge. Mullen, 45, of Girard, is accused of writing more than $21,000 in unauthorized checks from the Niles Frontliners bank account from May through July this year. He resigned the presidency after the organization’s treasurer confronted him about the missing money. He eventually made full restitution, according to the Frontliners’ attorney. Mullen remains free on bond.

Boardman police to beef up patrols

BOARDMAN

Township police will supplement regular patrols this week with high-visibility enforcement patrols.

Police said the emphasis is on seat-belt usage, but officers also will target aggressive-driving offenses such as speed, distracted driving and impaired driving. Funding for the additional patrols is through a federal grant administered by the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Donations sought for Way Station

columbiana

The Way Station, a non-profit, faith-based agency, is preparing for Christmas by seeking donations for its adopt-a-family program.

Donations of toys, food, gift cards and cash are needed. The adopt-a-family program serves children from babies to 18-year-olds. Gift cards are especially needed for teens.

Donations may be sent to the Way Station, P.O. Box 449, Columbiana, OH 44408. For information, call 330-482-5072.

Safety-belt advice

SOUTHINGTON

The Ohio State Highway Patrol encourages motorists to buckle up this holiday season and continue to do so throughout the new year.

Last year, more than 62 percent of people killed on Ohio’s roadways were not wearing a safety belt, according to Brian Holt, commander of the patrol’s Southington Post.

Robotics tourneys

WARREN

Warren G. Harding High School will host two FIRST LEGO League Robotics Regional Qualifying Tournaments in Trumbull County.

The Northeast Ohio FIRST Robotics Alliance), a partnership among area high school FIRST Robotics teams, and the Art Outreach Gallery, are collaborating with Time Warner Cable.

The FLL NEOFRA / Time Warner Cable Warren Delphi E.L.I.T.E. Regional will be 12 to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at Warren G. Harding High School.

The FLL NEOFRA / Time Warner Cable Girard RoboCats Regional will be 12 to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 at Girard High School. Both events are free and open to the public.

Arrest in robbery

NEWTON FALLS

Newton Falls Police Chief John Kuivila says police apprehended Jacob A. Bennett, 21, Wednesday in the 5:32 a.m. Tuesday robbery of Convenient Food Mart, 321 S. Milton Blvd.

Police say a male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black gloves and a white bandanna over his face demanded money from the store and was armed with two knives.

He fled on foot toward Superior Street, where he entered a vehicle and left the scene, police said.