Suspension is upheld

Suspension is upheld

WARREN

An arbitrator has upheld the 30-day unpaid suspension given to Capt. Janice Gilmore of the Warren Police Department for calling a fellow captain an offensive term to describe an Italian co-worker.

Gilmore, a 26-year employee, used the term during a meeting with U.S. Justice Department officials in July 2015, according to internal-affairs documents.

The arbitrator said it “defies common sense” to call a fellow captain that type of word in front of officials there to work with the department to fix ”a culture of past civil-rights violations.”

Because of civil-rights violations, the department entered into a consent agreement with the DOJ several years ago. The meeting was one of many designed to ensure the agreement is being followed.

The arbitrator noted the two captains are not “buddies,” and Massucci did not think it was funny. Captain is one step below police chief.

Pandering counts

NILES

Robert Lisovitch, 32, of Robbins Avenue is in the Trumbull County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond after his arraignment Wednesday in Niles Municipal Court on 20 counts of pandering obscenities. No plea was required at the hearing.

The charges resulted from a search warrant conducted Tuesday at Lisovitch’s home.

The investigation was carried out by local law-enforcement officials and the Crimes Against Children Unit of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

If convicted, Lisovitch could get more than 100 years in prison.

Choffin event to explore R&B and its influence

YOUNGSTOWN

Choffin Career and Technical Center, 200 E. Wood St., will present a fifth annual Black History Month celebration event that will explore “History of Rhythm and Blues: How It Influenced Rock and Roll, Pop and Hip Hop” in a morning session from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday and an afternoon session from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

It will include live performances by Youngstown natives Billy Beck and Ricky Ward of the Ohio Players, and a narration of the history of music by Deborah Benton. Beck and Ward will share their knowledge of the music industry and how people can communicate and teach through music. Light refreshments will be served. The event is open to the public. For information, call Lois Jean Haynes-Paige at 330-744-8759.

PUCO approves project

YOUNGSTOWN

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a request from the Ohio Rail Development Commission to install flashing lights and roadway gates at the Belle Vista Avenue railroad crossing on the city’s West Side.

The work will be done by Nov. 3. The PUCO is providing up to $5,000 toward the project. The total cost of the work wasn’t available late Wednesday.

Sebring council to meet

SEBRING

Sebring Village Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at village hall, where a public-comment period at both the beginning and end of the meeting, which will likely deal with the village’s lead water contamination problem.