Treasurer’s resignation left Niles in the lurch

February 21, 2018

NILES — The resignation of City Treasurer Janet Jones had an impact on the city’s financial recovery process. Quentin Potter, who chairs the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission, said during a Feb. 15 meeting that the city must train someone to reconcile city books, as well as a backup person. Jones resigned less than two months into a four-year-term and the books were not reconciled at all in January. Since 2015, project managers from the state auditor’s office have been reconciling the books, but the treasurer’s office was supposed to start doing it this year. ...

LaRosa pleads no contest

February 21, 2018

WARREN — The 18-year-old accused in the March 31, 2015, beating death and attempted rape of a 94-year-old Niles woman averted his jury trial and pleaded no contest Tuesday to four felony charges. Jacob LaRosa stood with his lawyers before Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay who accepted the plea and sent an expanded jury pool home before lunch Feb. 13. McKay found LaRosa guilty on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and attempted rape and ordered the Adult Probation Department to conduct a background report of the defendant, which ...

Niles fires teacher accused of misusing sick time

January 31, 2018

NILES — A teacher was fired from Niles City Schools after being accused of using sick time while he coached golf for another district. Christopher Chieffo, 45, who earned a base salary of $50,857 as a high school teacher, was terminated Jan. 18 by the Board of Education after being accused of using sick time while he was coaching boys golf for Howland Local Schools during an October tournament. Chieffo had been on administrative leave since Nov. 6. The resolution regarding Chieffo’s termination says he “knowingly and willingly misused and falsified sick leave” when he used ...

Area students pursue education, service at US military academies

January 31, 2018

WARREN — Tracey Ryser graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1995. Her husband, William, is an Army veteran, and their son, Jacob, is in his second year at West Point. Their daughter, Sarah, hopes to continues the family’s tradition of military service at the U.S. Naval Academy. “I tried to get my daughter to go there (West Point),” Tracey Ryser said. “I thought it would be fantastic for them both to be together, but no, she wanted the Naval Academy.” Sarah, 18, a senior at Girard High School is one of 11 students from the congressional district of U.S. Rep. ...

Officials seek advocacy under new contract

January 31, 2018

NILES — With a new yearlong contract approved between the city and the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, city officials plan to continue focusing on economic development in Niles and lobbying efforts at the state level. The city first contracted with the Regional Chamber in February 2017 for economic development purposes at a cost of $30,000 and under that contract, the Regional Chamber performed a property inventory and identification of available or vacant commercial and industrial buildings and land, began a process of community outreach and conducted business retention and ...

Nonprofit plans kickoff fundraiser

January 31, 2018

NILES — Playing it Forward of Niles is a new nonprofit organization made up of volunteers and is working to achieve 501(c)3 charitable organization status. Their mission is to provide new sports equipment, such as soccer balls, shin guards and spikes, to children in need in the Niles community. The group is working with local sports organizations such as Niles Youth Soccer League and Niles Little Red Dragons to ensure each child wanting to play has the proper sports equipment needed to participate and keep them safe. Each item will be purchased in the preferred color and / or size ...