Friday, December 16, 2016
Ejected in crash
VIENNA
A woman was seriously injured Thursday when she lost control of the car she was driving eastbound on state Route 82 and rolled over several times, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
She was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle and thrown across the highway into the snow. She was hospitalized, but her condition was not known late Thursday night.
Boyfriend indicted
WARREN
Shaun R. Simpson 23, was indicted Thursday on murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the death of his girlfriend, Becky L. Pyne, 22, Nov. 12 at their home on South Leavitt Road. Simpson will be arraigned at 11 a.m. Friday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. He dropped Pyne off at ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital the night Pyne died but didn’t stay behind to talk to police. Simpson later told police that another man had shot Pyne outside of their home.
School rated 5 stars
YOUNGSTOWN
Lori Kopp, executive director of Youngstown City School District’s student services department, said the early-childhood learning programs at McGuffey Elementary School have been awarded a five-star rating by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The district opened this year with all-day preschool, five days per week. Last year, it offered half-day preschool, four days per week. That change resulted in nearly 800 more hours of instructional time and increased preschool enrollment by 30 percent – up from about 350 children last year to about 450 this year.
To register a child for all-day preschool, call Melissa Puhalla in the early childhood office at 330-744-7325. The district is preparing to open its 23rd all-day preschool class Jan. 3 at Williamson Elementary School for 3- to 5-year-olds who live within the district. There is no cost to families for their children to attend.
Toys, clothes drive
YOUNGSTOWN
Our Community Kitchen, 551 Mahoning Ave., will host a nonperishable food drive along with warm coat/clothing and camping gear drive from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 17. Volunteers will be present to unload. The event will include dinner, a live band, clothing, hygiene and blessing bag distribution. Santa will be there with toys for children under 12. Children must be present. Law enforcement and homeless caseworkers can pick up toys and must call Melissa Roberts at 330-531-1895 in advance for pickup. Busing at Cristy House, 919 Main St. SW, Warren, will also be available. The bus will leave Warren at 1 p.m. and leave Youngstown at 2:30 p.m.
Street workers hit
CANFIELD
Two city street department workers were hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle on Fairground Boulevard Wednesday night. The employees reportedly were working to repair a water main break on the north side of Fairground Boulevard when a vehicle traveling westbound on the road struck them and a backhoe that was at the site. The victims, who were not identified, were taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol news release. The patrol continued its investigation Thursday.
Road material bought
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County commissioners Thursday approved the purchase of $110,000 worth of anti-skid material from Gennaro Pavers Inc. of Lowellville, the sole bidder, for use by the county engineer’s office.
The price is $22 per ton for 5,000 tons, said Kristin Barrett, finance manager for the county engineer’s office.
It’s the same material, supplier and price for the county as last winter, county Engineer Patrick Ginnetti said. The normal mix is 50 percent salt and 50 percent crushed limestone aggregate, he said, adding,. “If we have more ice, we’ll put more salt in, but we always try to add an aggregate component so you have traction on the road.”
Commissioners also approved a resolution to buy two 2017 Ford Utility Interceptor SUVs for an estimated $60,000 for the investigative unit of the county prosecutor’s office from Lebanon Ford at the state purchasing price.
Potential homicide
WARREN
Jeff A. Morgan, 63, of Merriweather Street Northwest, Warren, and Wheeler Avenue, Hubbard, is still alive, but detectives are treating his case as a potential homicide. Maj. Tom Stewart of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office said the office is continuing to investigate the circumstances that led up to Morgan being taken to Cleveland Clinic Saturday with a brain bleed. Morgan reported being robbed and assaulted early Saturday at the Budget Lodge, 4100 state Route 5, Braceville. Morgan did not seek medical attention but said a man in black robbed him and punched him in the face.
Fire evacuation
WARREN
Residents of several apartments in the Park Plaza Apartments, 1905 Southern Blvd., had to relocate to a motel after a fire on the second floor of the building at 4:47 p.m. Wednesday.
The fire started in a void between two apartments, causing the alarm system to be activated in the building and for everyone to be evacuated, Fire Chief Ken Nussle said.
There were no injuries, but the fire caused about $150,000 in damage. Residents not directly affected by the fire were allowed to return to their apartments later Wednesday. The state fire marshal’s office has not released a specific cause, Nussle said.
Free event for kids
YOUNGSTOWN
NOW Youngstown and Heart Reach Ministries’ “Light Up A Life” events this weekend are being moved to Heart Reach Ministries, 211 Redondo Road, Youngstown, and Christ Community Church, 531 Neoka Drive, Campbell ,because of the death of a member of Spanish Evangelical Church, the original location.
The activity will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and include free food, carnival games, drawing for prizes, and a small gift for each child.
For more information, call Heart Reach at 330-744-2000 or the church at 330-755-0355.
How to ID hate speech
YOUNGSTOWN
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, 1105 Elm St., will present Stephanie Fellenger and Brian P. Wells in a program on how to identify microaggressions, hate speech and threats.
It will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Light refreshments will be served. A $5 suggested donation will be given to Community Legal Aid to support its work.
Parking is free in the lot on Illinois or on the street. Access the building through the Illinois Street entrance. For handicap-accessibility, use the main entrance on Elm Street. Attendance is limited to 25 people. For reservations, email molly.e.toth@gmail.com or sarah.j.lowry@gmail.com or call call 330-360-7949 or 330-540-1022.
Niles City Council
NILES
City council will have a special meeting at 5 p.m. today in council chambers, 34 W. State St.
Arby’s donations
BOARDMAN
To celebrate the newly renovated Arby’s restaurant, 29 Boardman-Canfield Road, the Arby’s Foundation will donate the purchase price of each kid’s meal sold from now until Dec. 26 to Stadium Drive Elementary School. To promote the fundraiser, principal Michael Zoccali will work at the restaurant from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Performances reset
YOUNGSTOWN
Because Youngstown City Schools are closed today for freezing temperatures, the performances scheduled tonight at Chaney and East high schools have been canceled.
The Chaney Visual and Performing Arts winter performance, “Believe,” is rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday. East’s Fine and Performing Arts “Holiday Christmas Celebration” is rescheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.