METRO DIGEST || New Year’s Day hike

New Year’s hike

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA.

Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road, will host a free hike to celebrate the new year at 1 p.m. Friday. Jennings staff will lead participants on 2 miles of Oakwoods trail, exploring varied terrain and several different habitats.

The hike is rated easy for those who are able to cover the distance under winter conditions. No registration is required. Participants will meet in the parking lot at the Prairie Trails Area to begin promptly at 1. Dress for the weather; bring a water bottle and snacks, as desired. Call 724-794-6011 or email jenningssp@pa.gov for information.

First Day Hikes are sponsored by state park systems across the country to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors all year and promote healthy lifestyles. In 2015, more than 1,200 people participated in 25 hikes at Pennsylvania’s state parks.

Post office crash

CAMPBELL

A Campbell woman, Mary Ann Slanina, 75, accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake of her vehicle in the parking lot of the U.S. Post Office, 220 12th St., and crashed into the side of the building at 10:10 a.m. Saturday. City police said the driver was treated for a minor head injury at a local hospital and then released. No charges were filed.

Mayor sworn in

NILES

The city’s new mayor, Thomas Scarnecchia, and new council members were sworn in to office Saturday morning. In a short speech after his swearing-in, Scarnecchia talked about the importance of transparency, and said voters must approve a half-percent income tax to preserve the city’s police and fire departments as they now exist, according to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.

A financial plan inherited from the outgoing administration calls for the elimination of the city’s safety services dispatchers and would eliminate a policy requiring at least four uniformed officers on duty at all time. The mayor says one of his first orders of business will be to meet with all city employees and ensure they know what is expected of them.

Dead outside bar

YOUNGSTOWN

City police are investigating the death of Matthew Lattanzi, 29, who was found unresponsive just after 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day outside a car at Cedars West End Bar.

According to a police report, Lattanzi and a friend had a few drinks at the bar the night before. The friend drove the two home, reported 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner. The next morning, the friend drove Lattanzi back to Cedars to pick up his car.

According to the police report, when they arrived at Cedar’s, the friend was unable to wake Lattanzi. The friend told police neither of them were intoxicated and had not used any drugs. However, police found a folded piece of paper containing suspected heroin on the ground under the friend’s car.