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Former Warren police chief Merkel wants his job back

WARREN — Former Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel hand delivered a letter Tuesday to the Warren Civil Service Commission asking that the commission restore him to his position as chief and “investigate whether city officials procured and enforced (his) resignation through threats, coercion, political considerations and disparate treatment in violation of Ohio law.” Civil Service Commission member Dan Letson, an attorney, confirmed Tuesday that Merkel did drop off the letter Tuesday at the civil service commission meeting held that day. Letson also confirmed that Merkel also notified ...

Liberty board OKs five-year forecast

LIBERTY — The Liberty Board of Education learned that the district’s state funding will remain “pretty consistent” unless one or two variables change over the next few years, Treasurer Amber Shaeffer said. The board approved the district’s five-year forecast, a document given to board members ahead of time, at last week’s meeting. According to the financial summary portion of the forecast, expenditures are expected to exceed revenue, resulting in a shortfall in the final year of the forecast period. The district’s average annual revenue growth, which stood at 0.52% ...

Auditor seeks equipment for county IT department

WARREN — Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder is asking county commissioners to provide an estimated $125,000 to replace equipment needed by the county’s Information Technology department. She is seeking an uninterruptible power supply battery backup for the IT department’s serving room. “It is nearing the end of life,” Yoder told the commissioners. “It will not be serviced by the provider after the end of this year.” Yoder noted the UPS protects hardware from damage resulting from power outages. She noted the cost of replacing the UPS will be approximately ...

Academy gets ready for school year

YOUNGSTOWN — When Akiva Academy middle schoolers return to classes Sept. 8, they will do so in a brand new school. An open house and ribbon cutting took place Monday morning at the Altschuler Akiva Academy Goldstone-Mirkin Family Middle School at the Suzi Solomon Campus. The new school is in the former Allen’s Pharmacy Building across Gypsy Lane from the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, where the students in grades 5 through 8 formerly were in a hallway at the back of the building. The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation and Akiva Academy broke ground on the new middle school ...

Man, 19, has hearing on alleged aggravated burglary

WARREN — Craig Sims, 19, of Willard Avenue, is in the Trumbull County jail awaiting a preliminary hearing Thursday in Warren Municipal Court for allegedly kicking in the door to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on Beal Street NW on Aug. 25 and pointing a gun at her. He left and was arrested a short time later. Sims was arraigned last week on aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony. He could get about 10 years in prison if he is convicted of the offense. A Warren police report states that officers were called to Beal Street NW at 10:40 p.m. for a person with a gun. The caller said ...

Youngstown man accused of swallowing drugs at Liberty traffic stop

LIBERTY — A Youngstown man faces evidence tampering charges after Liberty police noted there was evidence that he swallowed drugs during a traffic stop to avoid apprehension. Michael Tomlinson, 26, faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence in Girard Municipal Court. According to a police report, an officer monitoring traffic near Fifth Avenue and Mansell Drive on Monday spotted a silver SUV traveling 42 mph in a posted 25 mph zone, noting the vehicle drifted left of center into an oncoming lane. A random registration check revealed the ...