METRO DIGEST || Burned calf reward reaches nearly $10K

Reward in burned-calf case reaches nearly $10,000

LISBON

Several organizations are offering a reward of nearly $10,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for burning a calf alive. Canfield Auto Spa, the Humane Society of the United States and the Columbiana County Farm Bureau are contributing to the reward after the calf was intentionally burned alive on a Lisbon farm sometime last Friday. Its owner, Edward Sabol, discovered the calf on Saturday while taking count of his cattle, according to a Humane Society news release. The calf had to be euthanized.

A local veterinarian confirmed that an accelerant was thrown onto the calf before it was set ablaze, causing extreme pain and lethal shock.

Anyone with information should contact the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office at 330-424-1104.

Man, 18, arrested in shooting

YOUNGSTOWN

An 18-year-old city man is in the Mahoning County jail, charged with shooting another man in the groin.

Michael Anderson, 18, of North Brockway Avenue, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felonious assault and shooting into a habitation.

The charges stem from the shooting of a 21-year-old man on East Avondale Avenue after an argument Sunday. A witness told police the victim argued with about six people after a woman accused him of trying to rape her.

Woman, 55, indicted in death

YOUNGSTOWN

A 55-year-old Youngstown woman has been indicted in the vehicular homicide of a 33-year-old Austintown man earlier this year.

Barbara A. Pusser, 55, of Arden Boulevard, is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while under the influence, tampering with records and forgery in connection with the death of Robert D. Boak of Austintown.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Pusser was driving east on Midlothian Boulevard Aug. 13 when she hit Boak, who was walking along the road. Then, a Ford Taurus driven by Dennis J. Lehman, 58, of Boardman, hit Boak and stopped immediately after making contact. Boak was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Neither driver was hurt.

Homes for Kids plans session

NILES

Homes For Kids Inc., will host an information session 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Community Room at Panera Bread, 3641 Elm Road NE, Warren, for anyone over 21 who is interested in being a treatment foster caregiver.

Foster caregivers are provided with the education and skills necessary to make a lasting impact on a child’s life and will receive 24-hour-a-day support and the reimbursement necessary to care for these children.

Many of these children have special needs, including autism, and need temporary help from a foster parent.

Treatment foster caregivers provide food, clothing, shelter, love, stability, safety, security, guidance, discipline and structure.

Classes for becoming a foster caregiver will begin from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17 at Homes For Kids Child & Family Solutions, 43 N. Main St, Niles. For more information, call 330-544-8005 ext. 413.

Safety forces urge early voting

YOUNGSTOWN

Local law enforcement and firefighter officials urged those in the Mahoning Valley to vote early during a press conference Thursday, across from Youngstown Fire Station No. 1, downtown. Early voting in Ohio started Tuesday. The event was organized by President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

Ex. Rep. Ken Carano honored

Austintown

The Ohio Communications Association is honoring Kenneth Carano — a former Austintown Fitch High School teacher and speech and debate coach, township trustee, state representative and member of former Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration — with its Distinguished Service Award at an event today in Kent.

The award is given to a person who exemplifies excellent service in communications. The association consists of communications teachers, professors and scholars in high school and colleges in the state.

Community Shield training

CANFIELD

The deadline for the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Community Shield training is approaching. The training enables community members to assist local law enforcement and troopers “as an extra set of eyes and ears.” The one-hour session Oct. 13 consists of instruction in impaired-driver detection, criminal patrol, homeland security and human trafficking, according to a news release.The training will be at 10 a.m. at the Canfield OSHP post on state Route 46. Register through Sunday by calling the Canfield post at 330-533-6866.

Woman to move lions, bears

MOUNT PERRY

A Perry County woman who keeps four lions and four bears in cages that Sheriff William R. Barker fears are unsafe is getting state help to relocate the animals to Colorado.Andrea Morris, who lives near Mount Perry north of New Lexington, told Ohio Department of Agriculture officials that she reluctantly will give up her animals because she cannot afford the requirements of a new state exotic-animals law that took effect last month.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Exotic animals are beginning an exodus from Ohio as owners make the tough choice to meet the strict requirements of the law or give up their animals.

At least some of Morris’ animals reportedly had been previously owned by Terry Thompson, the Zanesville man who created an international uproar when he released his personal menagerie of exotic animals last October. Law-enforcement officials were forced to kill 48 of the animals to protect the public. Thompson committed suicide after the release.