Early release

Early release

YOUNGSTOWN

One of 15 people convicted for their roles in the shooting death of a teen during an argument in August 2014 during a prearranged fight on Winona Drive on the South Side was granted an early release from prison Wednesday.

Judge Lou D’Apolito approved a request for early release for Rontrell White, 28, who pleaded no contest and was found guilty for the Aug. 17, 2014, shooting death of Shawn Cortez, 17. White was sentenced in September 2015 to 5 1/2 years in prison, and he had served a year in the county jail before his plea.

Woman accosted

YOUNGSTOWN

A Volney Road woman told police she was accosted by three males Wednesday evening, one of them armed, while she was hanging laundry on her porch.

Officers were called about 10:20 p.m. to a South Side home in the 2400 block of Volney, where a woman told them as she was hanging laundry, a laser pointer appeared on her clothing and a male with his face covered and holding a gun walked up her sidewalk. Two other males quickly joined him.

Reports said the three demanded money, guns and drugs and fled when the woman screamed.

Marijuana charge

YOUNGSTOWN

A South Garland Avenue man is in the Mahoning County jail on a marijuana possession charge.

Reports said police found five large bags of suspected marijuana in the trunk of a car he was driving about 11:10 a.m. Wednesday at East Philadelphia and South avenues after it was pulled over for running a stop sign.

Reports said the driver, Joshua Pixley, gave permission to search the car after the South Side stop after officers smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana, and the bags were found in the trunk. Besides the marijuana charge, Pixley also faces a charge of driving under suspension.

YSU to sponsor workshops

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State University Culture of Community initiative will sponsor workshops on cultural competency Saturday featuring Jesse Thompson, a recognized leader in the field of diversity and inclusion.

A community workshop is set for 10 a.m. at Flambeau’s Restaurant, 2308 Market St. A second workshop for YSU student leaders will be at 3 p.m. in the Ohio Room of Kilcawley Center on campus.

The workshops are sponsored by the Inclusion and Awareness Subcommittee of YSU’s Culture of Community RISE campaign. For information, contact William J. Blake, director of Student Diversity Programs, at wjblake@ysu.edu or 330-941-2087.

Help for Puerto Rico

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities is collecting items to assist those affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

Collection boxes will remain at all program facilities until Oct. 23. The organization is collecting bottled water, diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, canned goods and solar lights. People also can donate at www.convoyofhope.org.

Free batteries

LIBERTY

The Liberty Township Fire Department will be giving away free 9-volt batteries for smoke detectors to township residents beginning Sunday while supplies last. Limit is two per household.

Residents can stop at the fire station at 4001 Logan Way from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. This is made possible thanks to a grant from Energizer batteries.

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