Man pleads innocent to threatening Obamas

Man pleads innocent to threatening Obamas

YOUNGSTOWN

Frederick Watt, 33, of Youngstown, pleaded innocent to two counts of making threats to the president and first lady at his arraignment Tuesday at the Thomas D. Lambros Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse here.

Watt was released on $20,000 unsecured bond, and an attorney was appointed to represent him by Magistrate Judge George Limbert. A pretrial hearing has not been set.

A federal grand jury indicted Watt on May 23 for making the threats. He is accused of calling the Trumbull County 911 Center on March 24 and threatening both President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.

2 master teachers are recognized by board

Youngstown

The city school board recognized two employees as master teachers Tuesday.

Madonna Barwick, a science teacher at Chaney Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts school, and Christine Williams, a teacher at Martin Luther King and Taft elementary schools.

The Master Teacher Program creates teacher leaders to advance the profession and encourage high-quality teachers to remain in the classroom. Each district is required to use the master teacher criteria developed by the Ohio Educator Standards Board.

Patrol cites woman in Austintown accident

AUSTINTOWN

The Ohio State Highway Patrol cited a Mineral Ridge woman for failing to yield before turning onto state Route 46 from Mahoning Avenue, causing an accident that sent one man to the hospital.

The three-car accident which occurred Sunday night also involved a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Around 10:30 p.m., a car was turning left onto Route 46 and failed to yield to a sport utility vehicle that was driving down Mahoning in the left lane, said the highway patrol. The SUV was overturned on its roof in the accident and slid into the OSHP car that was in the right lane.

The SUV driver, 29-year-old Justin Davis of Youngstown, was treated for minor injuries at St. Elizabeth Health Center, and the car driver, Elizabeth Hoelzel, age unavailable, was uninjured in the accident.

The trooper was not injured, but the patrol car was damaged.

Community workday

Youngstown

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. will have an Idora Community workday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 820 Canfield Road. The day will include mulching and flower-planting along Glenwood Avenue. A senior citizen’s home also may be painted. A cookout will take place at 12:30 p.m. Parking is available at the cell tower across the street on Canfield Road. For information, call 330-480-0423.

Road is closed for culvert replacement

SEBRING

North Benton West Road, between 12th Street and Johnson Road in Smith Township, is closed today to allow workers with the Mahoning County Engineer’s office to replace a culvert, weather permitting.

Traffic will be detoured along 12th Street, West Middletown and Johnson roads. If you have questions, contact the engineer’s office at 330-799-1581.

Teen victim to sue

YOUNGSTOWN

Authorities say city police detective Sgt. Robert Lodwick copied naked photos of a 14-year-old girl and solicited her for sex over the Internet or cell- phone, according to Vindicator broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV.

Police say Lodwick was assigned to a rape case involving the girl, who was 13 at the time, and the officer began to ask her for sex. The victim and her mother plan to sue the city, according to WFMJ.

Lodwick was charged last week with importuning — soliciting a person to engage in sexual conduct — and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material. Both charges are felonies.

He is being held in the Mahoning County Jail on $100,000 bond. WFMJ said Lodwick reportedly confessed to the charges.

The 13-year city police veteran has been on unpaid administrative leave since Monday.

Registration deadline nears for workshop

YOUNGSTOWN

Tuesday is the deadline to register for R.J. Wean Foundation’s capacity building workshop for nonprofit organizations from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. June 26 at the D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitor Center, Fellows Riverside Gardens at Mill Creek MetroParks, 123 McKinley Ave.

The capacity building series provides information on finances, fundraising, board engagement and outcome measurement, elements that make for a firm foundation from which an organization can blossom and effect real and lasting community change, Wean officials said.

Wean is presenting the workshop in partnership with the William Swanston Charitable Fund.

The cost is $10 per person with light refreshments provided. To register, go online to www.rjweanfdn.org. For information, call 330-394-5600, ext. 100.

Weathersfield zoning meeting is canceled

Mineral Ridge

Weathersfield Township Zoning Commission meeting scheduled for today has been canceled.