METRO DIGEST || Hubbard man charged with abusing dog

Cruelty to animals

HUBBARD

A man is charged with cruelty to animals after people told police they saw him kick and hit a small dog. Robert A. Maruskin, 52, of North Main Street was walking the dog in the 100 block of North Main about 1 p.m. Tuesday when witnesses saw him hit the dog and hold it up by its leash, they told police. He was issued a summons for animal cruelty. Maruskin’s girlfriend owns the dog and was told to keep the animal away from him until the case is resolved.

Motion granted

YOUNGSTOWN

Judge James C. Evans on Wednesday granted a motion by a man accused of killing his son to have a new attorney. Judge Evans ruled in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on the motion filed by Larry Dawson, 25, of Wesley Avenue. Dawson is charged with murder in the Dec. 15, 2012, death of his 15-month-old son, Rayvon. He also faces two counts of child endangering. His previous attorney, Ronald Knickerbocker, would say only that he and Dawson had differences over the way the case should be handled.

Patriot Day Bike Nite

AUSTINTOWN

Quaker Steak & Lube, 5800 Interstate Blvd., will host its 8th Annual Patriot Day Bike Nite beginning at 6 p.m. today. The event will pay tribute to armed forces members past and present. A U.S. National Accuracy Champion skydiver will drop into the event at 7 p.m. There also will be military displays, and all those with a military ID will receive 20 percent off their meals.

Motorcycle stolen

STRUTHERS

A resident of the 500 block of Fifth Street reported his motorcycle stolen shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday. Officers dispatched to the scene noticed the resident’s shed door had been damaged. The matter remains under investigation.

Free film screening

YOUNGSTOWN

Today from 6 to 9 p.m., the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, the Mahoning County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative are offering a free film screening of “Anonymous People” at Christ Church Presbyterian, 1933 Canfield Road, to create a dialogue about long-term recovery in the Mahoning Valley.

This event is part of an effort by MVOC and OOC to drive the development and implementation of policies that encourage rehabilitation and treatment for people touched by issues of addiction, which subsequently decreases crime, officials said.

It’s estimated that 90 percent of crimes are drug- or alcohol-related, and 80 percent of people in state and federal prisons have substance-abuse issues, yet most do not have opportunities for treatment.

For information, visit www.mvorganizing.org and www.ohorganizing.org.

Identity fraud

BOARDMAN

A township woman was the victim of identity fraud, a felony offense, in a case in which someone used her name to apply for a loan. According to a police report filed Tuesday, a resident of Crimson Trail got a call from Cash America in Austin, Texas, to inform her that her name had been used to apply for an $8,700 loan. A representative from the company said the application was from July. The loan was approved, but the victim was given cancellation information after she told the company she did not apply for the loan.

Testing of sirens

HERMITAGE, PA.

Hermitage Fire Department will conduct the monthly test of the area’s weather warning sirens at 10 a.m. today. The test will include activation of the Clark, Farrell, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wheatland weather sirens. Citizens are asked to disregard the sirens during the test.

Boardman band night

BOARDMAN

The Boardman Spartan Marching Band will host a band night at 7 p.m. Saturday at Boardman Stadium.

Gates open at 6 p.m.

Participating high school bands include Struthers, West Branch, Lowellville, Austintown Fitch, Canfield and Howland, with a closing performance by the Boardman band. The show will feature Broadway, Disney and patriotic tunes.

Admission at the gate is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and senior citizens are admitted for free. Visit www.boardmanband.org for additional information.

Produce for veterans

STRUTHERS

Youngstown’s Inner City Garden will provide free fresh produce to military veterans at Veterans’ Outreach, 524 Youngstown-Poland Road, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.

The garden had a “people’s choice” vote on its Facebook wall to determine the organization to receive donated produce with the outreach winning, said Mason Carratt, the garden’s founder.

If farmers want to also donate food to veterans, Carratt said to either call him at 234-855-0259 or meet at the Veterans’ Outreach at 10 a.m. Monday.