Cookie deliveries

Cookie deliveries

YOUNGSTOWN

The wait is almost over: Girl Scout cookies will be delivered to area troop leaders this week.

On Tuesday, leaders can pick up cookies from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave. NW in Warren, and on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Michael Church, 300 N. Broad St. in Canfield. The deliveries are part of a five-day, 18-county effort, during which 2.4 million boxes of cookies will arrive in Northeast Ohio.

The cookies — a total of eight varieties — will be distributed to buyers shortly afterward. Cookie-booth sales will begin Friday, and the annual sale will end March 30. Cookies are $4 per box. To find nearby cookie sales, download the Cookie Locator app, visit the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio website, or call 888-9-THIN-MINT.

Man, 44, arraigned on rape charges

WARREN

Brian R. McGhee, 44, of Loraine Street in Masury and Hickory Lane in Warren was arraigned Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on rape charges that could result in a life prison sentence.

McGhee pleaded not guilty before Judge Peter Kontos to 13 charges: 10 of rape and three of gross sexual imposition.

He remains in the Trumbull County jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. He was arrested Friday after being secretly indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury.

Couple arraigned in bogus-fundraiser case

WARREN

The man and woman charged in a months-long bogus popcorn fundraiser were arraigned Monday in Newton Falls Municipal Court,

Judge Philip Vigorito set bond at $30,000 for Brian Billman, 33, and $1,500 for Christina Hill, 34, both of Warren Township. Billman remains in the Trumbull County jail, while Hill was released on bond.

Billman is charged with nine counts of felony theft and 11 misdemeanor theft counts. Hill is charged with one misdemeanor theft count.

Hill and Billman went with a boy dressed in a Warren Troop 101 Boy Scouts uniform and sold popcorn in Lordstown and at least two other communities, taking cash payments up front but never delivering the popcorn, Lordstown police said.

The boy received a popcorn fundraiser packet in the mail even though he had not been a member of the Boy Scouts for several years, police said.

A fowl nuisance

BOARDMAN

Canada geese are a North American nuisance, and with the approaching warm weather and April showers, they will only become more prevalent.

The scattered droppings, inappropriate nesting sites, and damage to plants make the geese undesirable in neighborhood front yards.

In order to better prepare landowners for conflict management with the geese, Boardman Park and the Ohio Division of Wildlife will have a free seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lariccia Family Community Center in the park.

Bryan Kay, a biolgist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, will discuss the role of Canada geese biology, ecology and population trends in relation to resolving the geese nuisance. The event is for age 16 and older, and registration is required. Contact Kay at 330-245-3026 or Bryan.Kay@dnr.state.oh.us.to register.

Skywarn training

austintown

There will be a Skywarn training at 6 p.m. March 19 in the Austintown Fitch High School Auditorium.

The Mahoning County Skywarn organization is sponsoring the event to train people on how to recognize approaching storms.

Gary Garnet of the National Weather Service will conduct the training. The training is free and open to the public. Sign-in starts at 5:15 p.m.

Quiz Bowl challenge

BOARDMAN

Sixteen local high schools competed in a Quiz Bowl academic challenge earlier this month, where teams of four students representing local high schools answered questions on literature, science, and history. The area finalists are Boardman and South Range. They will advance to the final competition at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 381 Boardman-Poland Road, planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday .

Man reports assault

WARREN

A 55-year-old Warren man reported being assaulted and robbed while walking along Homewood Avenue Southeast early Saturday.

The man said someone tripped him from behind, causing him to fall forward to the ground. Two unknown males approached him, with one of them pointing a gun at him and demanding money.

The victim said the man with the gun, who was black and was wearing orange shoes, took $700 from his wallet and fled.

Town-hall meeting

AUSTINTOWN

The Austintown Bond Committee will have a town-hall meeting at 7 p.m. today.

The meeting will be at Fitch High School. Facts about the Austintown schools’ bond issue will be presented at the meeting, and questions will be taken. The bond will appear on the May ballot.

Second investigation

WARREN

The Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office now has a second investigation to review involving the Warren Police Department.

On Friday, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation turned over its investigation to the prosecutors’ office of veteran patrolman Reuben Shaw and allegations he towed a vehicle not owned by him to a property he owns.

Shaw was placed on paid administrative leave in July when the allegations came to light. County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said it may “take some time” before the office is through reviewing the Shaw matter so it can determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

The prosecutor’s office also is reviewing the BCI investigation of the Oct. 19 officer-involved shooting death of Taemarr Walker, 24, of Warren.

Cemetery cleanup

LIBERTY

There will be a cleanup at Belmont Park Cemetery, 3346 Belmont Ave. All decorations must be removed by March 21.

For questions, contact superintendent Ronald Taylor by calling the cemetery at 330-759-2764.

Brush removal, work on potholes planned

LISBON

Workers with the Ohio Department of Transportation this week will be doing brush removal, guardrail repairs and pothole patching on state Route 518 from Gavers in Wayne Township to West Point in Madison Township in Columbiana County. Drivers are asked to used caution while traveling on Route 518.