METRO DIGEST || Tree-lighting in Boardman

Tree-lighting event

BOARDMAN

The community is invited to join Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley’s “A Children’s Holiday” tree lighting and fifth anniversary celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the hospital’s Beeghly Campus, Building C, 6505 Market St. Patients who have been cared for at Akron Children’s within the past five years will assist with the lighting of the tree at 6 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public to enjoy cocoa, cookies, carols and the tree lighting. Children’s activities include cookie and ornament decorating, crafts, coloring, face painting and a visit from Santa Claus.

Brief remarks will be made at 6 p.m. by Sharon Hrina, vice president of Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley; William Considine, president and chief executive officer of Akron Children’s; and JoAnn Stock, director of development for Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley.

Hearing postponed

CLEVELAND

The pretrial hearing and trial dates for Keelan Harris, charged in a Warren-based Ponzi scheme that sent his brother to prison, have been pushed back to February.

Harris, 37, of Warren, was scheduled to go on trial in Cleveland federal court Dec. 16, but Judge Christopher A. Boyko has again granted a request by Atty. J. Gerald Ingram for more time to review the “enormous” amount of material provided by the prosecution in the case.

Forcing Harris to go to trial this month would “deprive the defendant of the reasonable opportunity” to pursue a plea agreement “and the time necessary to prepare this action for pretrial and trial,” Ingram told Judge Boyko.

The new pretrial date is 11 a.m. Feb. 4 in Courtroom 15B, and the new trial date is 9 a.m. Feb. 11.

Harris’ brother, Kevin Harris, 49, is serving a seven-year federal prison term for his role in the scheme.

Benefit set to honor murder victim

LIBERTY

A benefit is planned this weekend for a memorial fund in honor of Brandy Stevens-Rosine, who was murdered last year in Cochranton, Pa. The second annual Brandy Stevens-Rosine ROCKFEST and Family Fun Day is Saturday at The Refuge, 1155 Church Hill-Hubbard Road. The doors open at noon, and bands start playing at 2 p.m.

Cornhole tournament signup starts at 1 p.m. There is a $20 entry fee. The tournament starts at 2 p.m. Activities will be available for kids. A raffle will feature a set of cornhole boards and other items, and there will be a silent auction. Cost for entry is $5; for children under 12, it’s $3. Money raised will be contributed to a scholarship and to the Refuge. To donate, call Carrie Rosine at 330-519-5399.

Gunman flees with $14,000 in cash

WARREN

A man with a gun got away with $14,000 in cash from the safe at Payday Loans, 1602 Parkman Road NW, at 9 a.m. Wednesday. An employee said the man came into the business just as she was opening it for the day.

The man was wearing a black mask, dark hooded sweatshirt and sneakers. Police searched the area but did not make an arrest.

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