METRO DIGEST || Body may be missing Farmdale man

Body found may be missing Farmdale man

ERIE, Pa.

The body of a man found Friday on the shores of Presque Isle Bay in Lake Erie may be a Farmdale man reported missing by his children Feb. 29.

The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, reported that Sgt. Rick Spadacene said fishermen found the remains Friday afternoon, east of where John Peters’ van was found March 1, partially hanging off a dock.

The 91-year-old Peters, who relatives say suffered from dementia, appears to be the only person missing in the area and the Erie Times reported that clothing found on the body matches the clothing described for Peters.

An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday.

Before Peters’ van was found, the last sign of him was at a Shell station in Orwell, Ohio, and a credit card purchase made at the Sparkle Market in Cortland.

Victims vigil set

WARREN

Parents of Murdered Children will host its annual Crime Victims Vigil for the public at 7 p.m. Monday. The event will take place at First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Park Ave. The vigil honors those who died due to violence and will feature speaker Vince Peterson of Warren.

A. Philip Randolph event today, Sunday

BOARDMAN

The Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute is having its 2017 state education conference at Holiday Inn Boardman, 7410 South Ave., today through Sunday.

The annual dinner will be today, beginning at 6 p.m. at the hotel. Keynote speaker will be Fred Richmond, International vice president of United Steelworkers of America. Other guests include state Sen. Joseph Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, and Betty Sutton, both Democratic Party gubernatorial candidates, and Petee Talley, secretary-treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO. The group will be welcomed to the area by Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally.

There also is a luncheon at the hotel at 12:30 p.m. today. Keynote speaker is Juvenile Court Magistrate Carla Baldwin, a candidate for Youngstown Municipal Court judge.

This year’s conference is hosted by the Youngstown and Trumbull chapters of APRI. Black labor leaders from across Ohio will be in attendance.

4-wheeler stolen

AUSTINTOWN

A township resident reported a four-wheeler stolen from his Carnegie Avenue home Thursday. The man told police he stores the four-wheeler in a garage without a garage door, and it is visible to passers-by. He was gone between 7:30 and 9:15 p.m. during which time the four-wheeler went missing. He still had the keys, so believes it was hauled away.

Kindergarten fair

STRUTHERS

Struthers Elementary School, 520 9th St., will host its second “Roaring into Kindergarten” fair from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. There will be activities designed to help incoming kindergarten students and their parents transition to the new school year. United Way will raffle two bicycles.

2 part-time jobs

YOUNGSTOWN

McGuffey Centre, 1649 Jacobs Road, is looking for part-time youth coordinator and part-time driver. The driver must have a valid driver’s license, be able to pass federal and state background checks and a drug test. Those interested in either position should apply in person at the center. For information, call 330-744-4377.

Transportation budget

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich added his signature to a $7.8 billion biennial transportation budget Friday afternoon, solidifying spending for road and bridge projects over the next two fiscal years.

The governor, who completed the signing behind closed doors, touted the legislation’s impact on transportation improvements and technologies, not to mention the 43 major projects, 446 bridge projects, 615 pavement projects and 356 safety projects covered by the bill.

The transportation budget included a Senate amendment requiring at least $33 million in federal flexible funding in each fiscal year to be directed to public transportation projects.

Taylor steps down

COLUMBUS

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor stepped down Friday as head of the Ohio Department of Insurance, weeks after announcing the formation of a campaign committee for a potential 2018 gubernatorial run.

Taylor will continue to serve as lieutenant governor and will head the state’s Common Sense Initiative and Ohio Business Gateway Modernization Project, a spokesman said.

Gov. John Kasich named Jillian Froment as Taylor’s replacement at the insurance department. Froment has been deputy director of the state agency since 2011.

State audit award

COLUMBIANA

State Auditor Dave Yost announced that Columbiana County Career and Technology Center and Lisbon School District received the state awards for their clean audit reports.