Annexation petition

Annexation petition

CANFIELD

The Mahoning County commissioners have received a petition by MALA Properties Ltd. of Canfield to annex 22 acres on Palmyra Road, south of U.S. Route 224 in Canfield Township, to the city of Canfield to enable a proposed new residential development on that land to receive city water and sewer service.

Atty. Louis P. Alexander Jr., who represents MALA, said he did not know yet how many single-family homes would be built there.

If the annexation occurs, the land would become part of the city, but continue as part of the township’s tax base, he said.

Hearing canceled for motorcycle clubhouse

WARREN

The hearing scheduled for preliminary and permanent injunction in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to determine whether the clubhouse for the Forever Two Wheels motorcycle club will be closed as a nuisance was canceled Friday and will be reset for another date, court officials said.

Judge Andrew Logan approved a temporary restraining order in June that allowed city officials to board up the house shortly after a June 18 gunbattle among rival members of Forever Two Wheels and the Brothers Regime Motorcycle Club that resulted in the deaths of two Brothers Regime members.

FTW President David Bailes was charged with two counts of murder but has not been arraigned because he has been recovering from gunshot wounds in a Cleveland hospital. The gunbattle took place at Shorty’s Place tavern on Highland Avenue in Warren Township.

News conference reset

WARREN

The news conference to announce the end of the consent decree between the Trumbull County commissioners and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency related to septic systems has been rescheduled for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 14, so OEPA Director Craig Butler can attend, said state Rep. Sean O’Brien of Bazetta, D-63rd.

The news conference had been set for Friday.

Parts of MetroParks Bikeway to be closed

Youngstown

Sections of the Mill Creek MetroParks Bikeway between Kirk and County Line roads will be closed to cyclists and pedestrians for asphalt pavement preventive maintenance work.

The work is expected to continue for several days. The bikeway will reopen once pedestrian traffic is permitted, according to a park news release. In the event of inclement weather, the work schedule will be adjusted.

New principal named

BELOIT

West Branch schools announced Friday that Caitlin Reash has been selected the new Damascus Elementary School principal.

Reash replaced Matthew Manley, who was recently selected superintendent of Crestview School District. Reash began her duties Aug. 12.

She is a graduate of West Branch High School and received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Mount Union. She has a background in early childhood education and psychology. She has taught the last six years in the East Liverpool and Crestview school districts.

Parents and students are welcome to stop by and meet her during the Damascus Elementary School open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Ex-deputy sues for racist speech rights

Trumbull County Sheriff’s deputy Michael Geer is suing the sheriff and the county for damages and back pay after he was disciplined with a three-day unpaid suspension for posting a racist comment on his Facebook page in May 2015.

According to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, Geer’s attorney filed a civil-rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Trumbull County commissioners and Sheriff Thomas Altiere, alleging the action taken against Geer deprived him of his constitutional rights to free speech and due process. The suit seeks an undisclosed sum that includes reimbursement for loss of salary, overtime wages, fringe benefits, as well as damages for mental anguish and emotional distress.