Vacancy not filled on board of elections

Vacancy not filled on board of elections

WARREN

A meeting called for Wednesday night to allow the Trumbull County Republican Party Executive Committee to select someone to fill a vacancy on the county board of elections fell short of that goal with no selection being made.

Randy Law, party chairman, said an executive committee member raised a question as to whether the proper amount of notice was given for the meeting.

After discussion, it was determined that only four days instead of the required five had passed since the notices went out, Law said.

At a special meeting of the Ohio Republican Party Central Committee on Friday in Columbus, state party chairwoman Jane Timken asked the Trumbull executive committee to have the meeting and make a selection so it could be sent to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted by Wednesday.

Husted makes the ultimate decision. Law declined to comment on what this might mean for who will fill the seat, which is now held by former party chairwoman Kathi Creed.

Hundreds lose power

BOARDMAN

More than 730 households in Mahoning County lost power as of about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to FirstEnergy.

The bulk of those affected – about 660 customers – were in Boardman. A township police dispatcher said heavy winds felled several power lines Wednesday evening.

Man pleads guilty to selling heroin

YOUNGSTOWN

A city man pleaded guilty Wednesday in the U.S. Northern District Court Of Ohio to selling heroin.

Shayne Mascarella, 23, will be sentenced June 21 for his role in the organization, which also saw four other members indicted.

Federal prosecutors said Mascarella also sold heroin that resulted in the death of a person known in court documents as “LZ” in June 2015.

Attempted rape, kidnapping conviction

WARREN

Donald DeWees, 52, of Charleston Road, Newton Falls, was convicted at trial Wednesday on one count of attempted rape and one count of kidnapping. He will be sentenced March 15.

DeWees, whose trial was this week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, could get up to 19 years in prison.

Prosecutors say DeWees attacked a former girlfriend on a bike trail in Newton Falls on Aug. 5, 2016, while the former girlfriend was walking to meet her new boyfriend.

DeWees attacked the woman, dragged her into the woods, ripped off her clothes and assaulted her, said Gabe Wildman, an assistant county prosecutor.

The woman kicked DeWees in the groin, ran back to her house only partly dressed and got help from her roommate, Wildman said.

Training for teachers

WARREN

In partnership with Child Care Connection, Eastern Ohio Education Partnership is expanding efforts to ensure students’ smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten, providing training at Kent State University at Trumbull for childcare teachers and administrators alongside their colleagues from area school districts.

The training expands the Preschool Transition Skills Summary program to reach even more students in more schools as they conclude the 2016-17 year and begin the 2017-18 academic year. The EOEP is broadening its collaborations with Child Care Connection, State Support Team Region 5 and other community partners to offer joint preschool and kindergarten teacher training, peer teacher mentoring and related family engagement activities during the upcoming school year.

Medicare information session scheduled

YOUNGSTOWN

A Medicare information session will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the East Side branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 430 Early Road.

An Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program volunteer will explain Medicare enrollment, original Medicare and Medicare Advantage and the prescription drug “doughnut hole.” The program will offer sign-up information for those who are turning 65 and becoming Medicare-eligible this year.

Call 330-744-8636 to register.

Damage, theft at former middle school

AUSTINTOWN

Three transformers in the old Austintown Middle School building at 5800 Mahoning Ave. were damaged and hardware was removed, according to a police report.

The report said the damage and theft occurred sometime in the past seven years. The building has not been in use since the new middle school opened in 2007. An Ohio Edison employee discovered the damage while determining how to remove electrical equipment from the building in preparation for demolition.

The property was bought by Meijer, which plans to demolish the school this year and open a supercenter as early as 2020.