METROSFlbdigest

Ex-CFO pleads not guilty to theft charges

WARREN

Paul F. Theisler Jr., 65, of Andrews Court, Canfield, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to aggravated theft.

The former chief financial officer for Warren Fabricating is charged with stealing more than $1.5 million from the company between 2005 and 2016. Theisler worked there 38 years.

Judge Ronald Rice ordered Theisler to continue on house arrest and that he not transfer any money without permission.

Rape conviction

WARREN

Larry N. Herbert, 77, of Main Street in Mineral Ridge, was sentenced to eight years in prison this week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to raping a child several years ago in Weathersfield Township.

Herbert was indicted in October on a more serious rape charge that could have carried a life prison sentence if he’d been convicted.

Boy shot in stomach

BROOKFIELD

A Masury boy, 14, was shot in the stomach at about 4 p.m. Thursday with a handgun reported stolen more than 20 years ago in Sharon, Pa.

According to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, the boy was shot in a home on the 500 block of Nellie Street. The victim was transported to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for treatment. He was reported to be conscious and talking to first responders, but the boy’s condition was not known Thursday night.

The person who called the Trumbull County 911 Center said the shooting was accidental. Police say the teen was shot with a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Sam Sanford, 25, of Masury, was charged with receiving stolen property.

MCHS policy changes

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County High School will implement a new policy that recognizes traumatic events students experience that can significantly impact their learning and behavior at school.

Staff and administration will be committed to adopting practices that foster safe and supportive schools which means fostering a safe, positive, healthy and inclusive whole-school learning environment.

School administrators established a referral and assessment process for students who may have been exposed to trauma and are therefore possibly at risk. On-site mental health providers are available at all times to promote the emotional well-being of all students.

In addition, there will be ongoing professional development to staff that includes supporting students in self-regulation of their emotions. The school is located on Bryn Mawr Avenue on the city’s East Side.

YNDC grant offers

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. is offering grants to groups that have members between age 10 and 24 for cleanup and green vacant lots in the city. The organization received a $42,500 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide $1,700 per lot for 25 lots. Funds can be used to compensate youths and for equipment.

Attendance at an application technical-assistance session is mandatory to qualify. The sessions are at the YNDC Kitchen, 822 Billingsgate Ave. from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 21 and Feb. 27, and from 1 to 4 p.m. March 4. For information, contact Liberty Merrill at YNDC at 330-480-0423 or by email at lmerrill@yndc.org.

Candidates appeal

WARREN

So far, two of the four people whose candidacies were ruled invalid this week by the Trumbull County Board of Elections have appealed the decision.

Ronald Book and Pierson J. Butcher Jr., both of whom filed petitions seeking to run for the 4th Ward Warren City Council seat, have indicated they will appeal. Both appeal hearings will be next Friday: 10:30 a.m. for Book and 11 a.m. for Butcher.

Book’s candidacy was ruled invalid because his petitions said he was running for “Council” but didn’t say 4th Ward.

Butcher’s candidacy was ruled invalid because he admitted to elections board workers he had not lived in the 4th Ward for at least one year, which is a requirement to be a candidate. The deadline to appeal is next Friday.

Troop 25 observances

CANFIELD

Boy Scout Troop 25 will celebrate Scout Sunday and the 107th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America as well as the 91st anniversary of Troop 25 at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St. The Rev. Susan Brown will deliver the message.

In addition to the service, the Scouts will offer a pancake breakfast in the church’s fellowship hall at 7:30 a.m., which will be open to the public for a donation. In its 91-year history, Troop 25 has had more than 175 young men earn their Eagle Scout award, scouting’s highest rank.

School board to meet

MCDONALD

The McDonald school board will have a special meeting at 5 p.m. today at the high school library, 600 Iowa Ave.

Hearing canceled

WARREN

A hearing that was scheduled for Thursday in Warren Municipal Court for Alan M. Jordan, 33, of Laird Avenue Southeast, was canceled because he was transferred from the Trumbull County Jail to another facility for a mental-health assessment, according to court records.

The “court will be notified when [Jordan is] available,” according to a notation in his court case.

Jordan was charged with felony inducing panic last week after school officials were informed that Jordan’s Facebook page contained a comment about his displeasure that his child was “having some trouble at school with some little kids.”

The post goes on to say, “I swear to God, I’ll make Sandy Hook look like a day at Disney ... so y’all better control ya [expletive] kids.”

Judge Thomas Gysegem is awaiting results of an evaluation before having an arraignment hearing and setting bond.

Family Law workshops

WARREN

The nonprofit Community Legal Aid is offering two classes to help low-income Trumbull County residents. Both will be at Trumbull County Family Court, 220 Main Ave. SW. Family Law Workshop: Divorce or Dissolution with Children is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday; Family Law Workshop: Custody/Visitation Matters will be at 9 a.m. Feb. 21.

On Vindy Talk Radio

YOUNGSTOWN

The scheduled guest today on “Brainfood from the Heartland” with Louie B. Free on Vindy Talk Radio is Jon Howell, who will discuss the upcoming “Advancing Education-Reducing Crime Day,” which is set from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 22 on four Youngstown City School District campuses. The broadcast is from 8 a.m. to noon.