METRO DIGEST || Mom charged with endangering sight-impaired daughter

Child endangering

WARREN

Melissa Bland, 34, of Beck Street Southeast was in Warren Municipal Court this week facing a child-endangering charge. She pleaded not guilty earlier. The charges contend her 15-year-old visually impaired daughter was in unclean conditions and had not attended school for about 18 months when she was discovered in Beck’s house in November. A woman who checked on the girl said she had feces on her pants and had not bathed recently. Trumbull County Children Services has been working with the family since then. Warren schools’ superintendent said school officials tried to find the girl when she didn’t come to school in the fall 2013, but the family had moved.

Icy crashes

WARREN

Driving has become dangerous in many areas of the Mahoning Valley because of accumulated ice, but Warren was hit especially hard Thursday, reporting 14 vehicle crashes — a dramatic increase over normal levels — and four more Friday morning, Warren police said.

A 7:50 a.m. crash on Chestnut Street Northeast Thursday sent two teens to the hospital for treatment of possible injuries after one car backed onto the street in front of the other one. A 17-year-old female was transported to St. Joseph Warren Hospital, and a 14-year-old male was transported to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Crashes were also reported at 8:02 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10:27 a.m. on West Market Street, Niles Road and West Market Streets, respectively. Other crashes were reported at 12:38 p.m., 12:56 p.m., and 1:01 p.m. on Tod Avenue Southwest, East Market Street and North Park Avenue, respectively. Afternoon crashes were reported on Lane Drive Southwest, Niles Road, East Market Street, Atlantic Street Northeast, Niles Road Southeast and West Market Street.

North Side shooting

YOUNGSTOWN

A woman was taken to the hospital after a shooting on West Dennick Avenue on the city’s North Side. Police were called to a house there about 6:40 p.m. Friday. One arrest was made. The woman’s injury was not life-threatening, police said. No other information was available Friday night.

Risher Road closing

WARREN

The Trumbull County Engineer’s Office announced the closing of Risher Road between Layer Road and the South Leavitt Road bridge for soil borings, effective Feb. 17-25. The recommended detour route is north on South Leavitt Road, west on Burnett Road or south on Layer. For information, call 330-375-2640.