Funds released

Funds released

COLUMBUS

The state Controlling Board released $43,000 Monday toward a road- improvement project to accommodate a company expansion in Austintown.

The funds will go to the Mahoning County engineer for improvements to the main access to an industrial park area between Meridian and Four Mile Run roads. Hynes Industries, a metal processing company, plans an expansion at the Hendricks Road site, creating 42 full-time jobs and retaining 140 existing positions.

State grants totaling $118,000 have been earmarked for the roadwork.

Asst. super hired

AUSTINTOWN

Austintown schools hired a new assistant superintendent. Jeremy Batchelor was given a three-year contract and will earn $93,000 this year.

He was previously an assistant principal with Austintown from 2006 to 2008. Batchelor had been the principal of James Martin Middle School in North Carolina.

Superintendent Vincent Colaluca said Batchelor will also handle director of curriculum duties. This is the district’s first assistant superintendent since 2004.

Batchelor earned his undergraduate degree from John Carroll and a master’s degree from Youngstown State University in educational administration.

Not-guilty plea

WARREN

Dion L. Bell, 30, of Sweetbriar Street Southwest, is being held in the Trumbull County jail without bond after being charged with felony kidnapping and domestic violence. A not-guilty plea was entered for him in Warren Municipal Court.

A 26-year-old woman, also of the Sweetbriar address, said Bell assaulted her Sunday and held her and two children hostage.

The woman called 911 at 8:21 p.m. Police called into the house with no response, but Bell said, “I’m back here,” and came out to be taken into custody. Police found the woman and children age 5 and 7 in the same bedroom where Bell had been.

The woman said they argued over money, then Bell hit her in the face with a closed fist multiple times.

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