METRO DIGEST | Tiny driver learns from YouTube

Driving by YouTube

EAST PALESTINE

An 8-year-old boy drove himself and his 4-year-old sister from their home, where their parents were sleeping, about a half-mile to McDonald’s to get a cheeseburger at about 8 p.m. Sunday.

The ride to the McDonald’s drive-thru was accomplished without incident, and witnesses said the young driver followed the rules of the road.

According to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, East Palestine Policeman Jacob Koehler said the boy said he watched videos on YouTube to learn to drive.

The siblings did get to eat at McDonald’s while they waited for their grandparents to pick them up. No charges have been filed, according to Koehler.

Shot in back

YOUNGSTOWN

Police detectives are investigating the circumstances that led to a man being shot in the back about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The victim, whose condition was unknown late Wednesday, was dropped off at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. Police were questioning the person or persons who brought the victim to the hospital to determine when and where the shooting occurred.

2 bank robberies

CLEVELAND

Jarrett N. Drajic, 22, of Austintown, was indicted on two counts of bank robbery, the U.S. Attorney announced Wednesday.

Drajic robbed Farmers National Bank in East Liverpool Feb. 10, the U.S. Attorney said. And he robbed Farmers National in Canfield Feb. 17, according to the indictment.

The case was investigated by the FBI and East Liverpool, Columbiana and Canfield police departments.

The matter is being prosecuted by Jason M. Katz, a Youngstown-based assistant U.S. attorney.

Reducing senior falls

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University and Ohio Living Park Vista will partner on Project VIBE, a research and community service project aimed at promoting balance and reducing falls among Mahoning Valley residents age 65 and over.

Project VIBE, or Valley Initiative to promote Balance among the Elderly, is seeking volunteers to answer questions relating to balance and falls, and undergo a balance assessment. Assessments will take place from 9 a.m. to noon April 17, 19, 24 and 26 at Ohio Living Park Vista, 1216 Fifth Ave.

For information call 330-746-2944 ext. 1553.

Pentagram in park

AUSTINTOWN

Police found picnic tables standing on end and a pentagram made of sticks and leaves on the ground at Austintown Township Park on Tuesday.

The call came from the parks director, who told police the vandalism occurred sometime after he left Monday evening and before he returned Tuesday morning.

There were also three garbage cans on top of picnic tables. No damage was reported.

Hospital fund-raiser

BOARDMAN

Pettiti’s Garden Center of Boardman, 5509 South Ave., in partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, is having an in-store fund-raising campaign through July 31 to benefit the hospital.

During the campaign, Pettiti’s customers will be encouraged to donate $1 while checking out at the register. All funds raised will stay local and support programs and services of Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley.

Pettiti’s has raised $16,000 for Akron Children’s since their partnership started in 2014.

Ryan KSU speaker

WARREN

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, is Kent State University at Trumbull’s 2017 Spring Commencement speaker. Close to 100 of the more than 200 students graduating this spring will participate in the ceremony, which will be at 6 p.m. May 13 at Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave.

Ryan is a member of the House Appropriations Committee , which controls the expenditure of money by the federal government.

Before his election to public office, Ryan served as president of the Trumbull County Young Democrats and chairman of the Earning by Learning program in Warren.

Sweeping in Lowellville

LOWELLVILLE

The street sweeper will be in Lowellville from after 3 p.m. to dusk April 21, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 22 and 23. Residents are asked to have vehicles removed from the streets adjacent to their property so the sweeper will be able to clean more efficiently.

YSU Heritage Awards

YOUNGSTOWN

The late Joseph Edwards, a long-time director of Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music and former dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts, and K.J. Satrum, retired executive director of Student Services, will receive the YSU Heritage Awards. The university will present Edwards’ award at the annual Faculty Awards Dinner Wednesday in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center. Satrum will accept her honor at the annual Staff Awards Dinner May 10, also in the Chestnut Room.

For information on both events and to make reservations, contact Mollie Hartup at mahartup@ysu.edu or 330-941-3086. The reservation deadline for the staff dinner is May 3. Tickets are $20 per person

Miller gets fellowship

YOUNGSTOWN

Jennifer Miller of McDonald was awarded a prestigious, three-year graduate research fellowship by the National Science Foundation just 10 months after earning an undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University.

Miller, a spring 2016 YSU graduate, is pursuing a doctorate in physical chemistry at Penn State University.

The NSF fellowship will pay her tuition plus a stipend for the next three years.

At Penn State, Miller’s research focus is nanochemistry, the exploration of things too small to see with the naked eye. She’s working on a collaborative research study on lasers with an optical engineering group at Penn State.

Teams honored

STRUTHERS

City council honored three Struthers High School sports teams during a regular meeting Wednesday night. The girls tennis and basketball “Ladycats” and boys basketball teams received plaques.