$1 million bond set

$1 million bond set

WARREN

Bond was set at $1 million for Shaun R. Simpson Sr., 23, who pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges Friday in the death of his girlfriend.

Simpson is charged with murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the Nov. 12 shooting death of Becky L. Pyne, 22, at their home on South Leavitt Road. They have a small child together.

Siimpson drove Pyne to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital at 11:13 p.m. and left. He told police later he had to drop off his child. He later told them another man shot Pyne.

Closings planned

Auto-title departments throughout Ohio will be closed Dec. 30 so the state can install and upgrade a new title software program. Employees will be in training that day but the auto-title offices will not be open to the public.

The state has said all title offices will reopen for regular business hours Jan. 3.

In Mahoning County, Ron Clifton, auto-title department supervisor, said his office will be open Dec. 30 to handle passport and naturalization work, but won’t perform any auto, motorcycle or boat title work that day.

Not-guilty plea

WARREN

Darrin J. Lawrence, 36, of Estabrook Avenue Northwest pleaded not guilty to child endangering Friday in Warren Municipal Court after police found him not breathing in his home and revived him with the opiate-reversal drug naloxone Thursday.

He was released after posting a recognizance bond, meaning he didn’t have to pay anything.

Lawrence’s child, age 11, called 911 at 8:27 p.m., saying her dad was unresponsive.

When an officer entered his bedroom, Lawrence was on his back, his skin was gray, his eyes were half-open and he was not breathing, according to a police report. The officer administered the naloxone.

After ambulance personnel administered a second dose of the drug, Lawrence regained consciousness. He was taken to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital for treatment. Relatives picked up the child. Police recovered possible drugs and drug paraphernalia in the bedroom.

Mayor event canceled

YOUNGSTOWN

Tuesday’s “5 Minutes With the Mayor” John A. McNally is canceled and a date for the January session will be announced at another time, the city has announced.

Meeting canceled

YOUNGSTOWN

There will be no Mahoning County commissioners’ meeting next week, but their 50th and final meeting of this year is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 29 in the county courthouse basement.

Pajamas sought

BOARDMAN

Carter’s at the Shops at Boardman Park, 381 Boardman-Poland Road, is collecting new pajamas and cash donations for Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley now through Dec. 25.

This marks the first year the children’s clothing store’s Pajama Program drive has benefited Akron Children’s. In the first three weeks of the campaign, Carter’s donated more than $3,000 worth of pajamas to the local hospital.

“Customers have been sharing their stories about the care they have received from Akron Children’s, and they wanted to help families during their stay at the hospital,” said Lolly Daprile, Carter’s assistant store manager. For information, call the store at 330-758-0390.

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