METRO DIGEST || Animal-cruelty case

Animal-cruelty case

NILES

A humane officer for the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County has filed an animal-cruelty charge against the woman, 66, of Ohltown McDonald Road in Weathersfield Township whose 24 dogs were removed last week because of deplorable home conditions.

Theresa C. McBride was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for an evaluation last Wednesday during an investigation of her home. She is due for arraignment in Niles Municipal Court on the misdemeanor charge Tuesday.

Weathersfield police were called to her house for a barking-dog complaint, but the officer noticed a powerful urine smell while still standing on the porch and went inside to investigate.

He found an extremely bad smell of dog urine and feces and observed dirty dishes and used food containers “covering every square inch of the kitchen and heaping in a mound about 2 feet fall.”

The dogs are being housed at the Animal Welfare League facility in Vienna Township.

Special meeting

BELOIT

West Branch Local school board will have a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. today in the conference room at the high school, 14277 Main St. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the employment of a public official. The meeting will take place in executive session. No action will be taken.

Painting homes

YOUNGSTOWN

More than 30 Youngstown-area organizations are joining forces to paint the homes of four elderly, low-income Youngstown residents. Operation Paint Brush, May 21-22, is a grass-roots community outreach that is bringing together more than 200 volunteers including civic and community organizations, contractors, government entities, the United Way, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown, various groups from Youngstown State University and dozens of churches.

Jon Howell is the organizer and sponsor, and is a Youngstown native living in Bloomington, Ill. He discussed his idea with the Rev. Lewis Macklin of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church and formed an alliance with Youngstown Neighborhood Development Executive Director Ian Beniston and YSU City-University Planner Dominic Marchionda.

Operation Paint Brush still is in need of painting supplies. For more information, contact Howell at 309-826-5136, or jonl_howell_873@comcast.net.

Committee to meet

LORDSTOWN

Lordstown Village Council’s streets and sidewalks, parks, buildings and grounds committee will meet at 4 p.m. today in council chambers at 1455 Salt Springs Road.

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