Trafficking sentence

Trafficking sentence

YOUNGSTOWN

A man who prosecutors said was part of a ring distributing heroin on the East Side was sentenced Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to 18 months in prison.

Judge Shirley J. Christian handed down the sentence to Rodney Carter, 34, of Choice Court, who pleaded guilty to felony charges of trafficking in heroin and trafficking in heroin in the vicinity of a juvenile.

The sentence was a result of a plea agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Carter was given credit for 98 days served in the county jail while awaiting the disposition of his case.

Homicide ruling

WARREN

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office in Cleveland has provided an official cause and manner of death for Russell Cottrill, 3, who died Nov. 30.

Russell died of blunt-force injuries of the head and neck with brain and spinal injuries, a spokesman said Tuesday. The death was ruled a homicide.

His mother’s common-law husband, Arthur A. Harper, 43, who lived with Russell and his mother at a home on High Street Northeast, is charged with murder, child endangering and felonious assault. Harper this week asked to be evaluated to determine whether he is competent to stand trial, and Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court approved the request.

Ranch gets approval

VIENNA

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has given the Candywood Whitetail Ranch on Scoville North Road its approval to begin operations. It is the former Candywood golf course.

An ODA spokesman said earlier the agriculture department approval, which was granted April 6, was a formality once the Ohio Department of Natural Resources approved the facility April 1.

The ranch has a website that describes the business as 275 acres of “timber, fields of grain crops and vast areas of multifloral brush that provide premium whitetail habitat.”

It lists the price to hunt whitetail deer starting at $1,800 and ranging to $14,500 or more. The facility also lists sheep at $1,500 and up, and boar at $500 and up.

Himrod to close

YOUNGSTOWN

Himrod Avenue between Andrews and Wilson avenues will be closed for bridge-deck repairs beginning Monday for a period of 45 days. Eastbound traffic detour will be Andrews to Oak Street and Fruit Street. Westbound traffic detour will be Lane Avenue to Oak and Andrews.

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