METRO DIGEST || 4th surgery for Ed Port Thursday in Chicago

4th surgery for Ed Port Thursday in Chicago

Austintown

Township resident Ed Port is scheduled to undergo a fourth surgery at a Chicago hospital to remove tumors caused by the disease he’s endured since childhood.

Port, 42, has neurofibromatosis which caused large tumors that obscured the left side of his face. His first two surgeries, in June and October 2011, were the most extensive and removed the majority of the larger tumors.

A third surgery was last March.

In today’s surgery, Dr. McKay McKinnon will concentrate on Port’s left eye and ear. He’ll take two small pieces of bone from Port’s skull to place under and behind the eye to make it more uniform with the right one.

The plastic surgeon also will open Port’s ear canal. He expects two more surgeries after today’s.

Teen shoots self

WARREN

A 16-year-old Woodland Street Northeast boy accidentally shot himself in the stomach at 9:21 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Logan Avenue and McKinley Street northeast, police said. Marcus Lowery was taken to the hospital, where he was in serious condition. Police found the gun Lowery used in the ditch at the intersection and took it into evidence.

3 armed robberies

YOUNGSTOWN

Three armed robberies occurred on the city’s South Side Wednesday within hours of each other. Police said they are unsure if they were related, and could provide no additional information Wednesday night.

Liberty man robbed WARREN

A 22-year-old Liberty Township man reported being robbed by a man walking on North Park Avenue at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday.

The victim said he was driving his 2000 black BMW south on North Park and looking for Idylwild Street to visit a family member. He asked a male on foot for directions, and the man pointed a gun at him and ordered him to move into the passenger seat.

The robber put the victim’s jacket over the victim’s head and drove while taking the victim’s wallet, house keys and $30 cash from his pocket.

The victim said the robber made him exit the car at Laird Avenue and South Street Southeast and drove off.

Boardman shooting

BOARDMAN

Police continue investigating a gunshot on Spring Garden Drive. A 71-year-old man told police he heard a gunshot at about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday at his home in the 100 block of Spring Garden Drive, according to reports. The homeowner and police found a bullet hole in siding on the exterior of the house’s second level, between two windows, records show.

Pa. sex offender fails to register

PITTSBURGH

A 45-year-old Lawrence County, Pa., man faces up to 10 years in federal prison and could be fined up to $250,000 after he pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender between Dec. 1, 2009, and March 2, 2010.

James A. Williams, formerly of Edinburg, Pa., entered his plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond. Williams is jailed pending his sentencing at 10 a.m. Feb. 27, the U.S. attorney said. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

2 face robbery charges

PITTSBURGH

A federal grand jury indicted Regan T. Pierre, 20, of New Castle, and Mario L. Robinson, 24, of New Kensington on charges they committed an armed robbery at Fidelity Bank in Pittsburgh on Oct. 17. Robinson, who purportedly carried a handgun that day, is also charged with illegal gun possession because of a prior felony conviction, the U.S. Attorney said. The defendants each face seven to 25 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The FBI and Pittsburgh area police investigated the case.

Funeral donations

NEW CASTLE, PA.

Donations are being accepted for funeral expenses for a child who was killed by a truck while playing in his neighbor’s yard Sunday. Donations can be made at any PNC Bank to the Octavius Stone Memorial Fund or mailed to PNC Bank, 2 North Mill St., New Castle 16101.

A check or money order should be made payable to Octavius Stone Memorial Fund with “for deposit only” endorsed on the back.

Octavius was 7. His friend, Emil Velez, 9, of Volant, Pa., also was injured in the 2:15 p.m. accident.

Police charged Virgil Coonfare, 66, of Beckford Street, New Castle, with homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence.

Canfield lighting event

CANFIELD

Canfield will host its annual “Lighting of the Green” ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday on the Village Green at U.S. Route 224 and state Route 46.

Festivities include caroling, a live Nativity, horse-drawn carriage rides, professional photos with Santa, roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, and refreshments.

Canfield Rotary Club and donations of many local businesses make the event free. The Rotary’s partnership is with Canfield Township trustees, Canfield City Council, Dr. Pamela Barkett, Inner Circle Pizza-Canfield, Hampton Inn and Suites Canfield, Nemenz IGA Struthers and Lincoln Knolls, Picture This, Piccadilly Parlor and White House Fruit Farm.

Donations sought for military party

AUSTINTOWN

The USO of Northern Ohio is asking residents to donate money to help defray costs of the 838th National Guard Military Police Co.’s holiday party on Sunday.

Many members of the 838th, which is having a “Strong Bond” event Saturday at Crossroads Community Church, are scheduled for deployment next year, said Paul Rado, director of marketing and development for USO of Northern Ohio.

The Ohio National Guard’s “Strong Bond” event is designed to help couples prepare for the burden of separation during deployment and to help strengthen the bonds of marriage.

People who wish to help the 838th’s Family Readiness Group with party expenses can go to the USO Website, www.USONorthernOhio.org, and indicate their gift is for the 838th.