Pleads not guilty

Pleads not guilty

ASHTABULA

The driver of a van troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol say collided with a motorcycle driven by Youngstown Fire Department Battalion Chief Ronald Russo pleaded not guilty Wednesday in municipal court to a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter.

Josephine Palmer, 48, of Northfield, is free until her next court date Dec. 13 after her arraignment.

Russo, 64, of Poland, was riding a motorcycle when it struck a van at the intersection of state Route 45 and North Bend Road in Saybrook Township at 12:51 p.m. Oct. 20. Russo died. He was riding with his brother, Bob, at the time.

Palmer was charged Oct. 31 after an investigation by the highway patrol’s Ashtabula post in consultation with the Ashtabula city solicitor.

Man fatally shot

WARREN

A Youngstown man in his 30s was fatally shot about 4:20 p.m. Wednesday while riding his motorcycle on Deerfield Avenue near Sixth Street in the city’s southwest side.

A Warren schools bus driver reported seeing someone get shot off their motorcycle and left the area because the bus was filled with children, according to the Trumbull County 911 Center’s computer-aided dispatch.

Another person called 911 to report hearing two shots. A third person saw a suspect go up to the victim and shoot him again.

When paramedics arrived at the scene, they reported the victim was unresponsive.

Deerfield and Surfwood Circle, not far from Tod Avenue Southwest, were closed while police searched for suspects and evidence, reported 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.

Struthers council

STRUTHERS

City council voted to send two pieces of legislation back to committee at Wednesday night’s meeting.

The first ordinance would authorize the city administration to join a coalition of municipalities that are suing the state over changes made to the Ohio Revised Code regarding tax collection.

The second ordinance would impose a fee on landlords who fail to register their property with the city at a rate of $100 per property the landlord does not have registered.

Council members said both pieces of legislation were in need of review by their respective committees before a vote for passage.

Invitation to share

YOUNGSTOWN

Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th, invites the public to a sit down to share what is going on in neighborhoods during a “Coffee and Conversation” to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Flambeau’s Dinner Club, 2308 Market St.

Davis will provide complimentary coffee and doughnuts as she provides an overview of major happenings and will take and answer questions.

The topic is city finances. The guest is DeMaine Kitchen, president of council-elect.

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