Newton Falls, Ohio - 44444.com

NEWTON FALLS — A 35-year-old Ophelia Avenue woman will be in Newton Falls Municipal Court today to answer to felony drug charges after the Trumbull Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force raided her home Monday.

Angela G. Petrella was taken to the Trumbull County Jail after the task force discovered suspected cocaine, suspected crack cocaine, plus marijuana, Oxycontin, other drugs, digital scales and other items in the home.

The raid followed a two-week investigation, TAG said. Trumbull County Children Services was contacted to come to the residence to assist with children in the home.

TAG is a major-crimes unit that focuses on drug traffickers, firearm traffickers, gangs and homeland security.

Refusals and Threats of Lawsuit Jeopardize Transparency

NEWTON FALLS, OH- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio sent a letter today to Richard Schwartz, law director for the city of Newton Falls, urging him to ensure officials comply with Ohio’s public records law. The ACLU sent the letter after it received complaints regarding officials denying public records requests without sufficient cause and Police Chief John Kuivila threatening a freelance reporter with a lawsuit if the reporter continued pursuing records.

ACLU of Ohio Executive Director Christine Link said, “Access to public records is the cornerstone of honest and fair government. Threatening legal action against a resident simply for requesting information is unreasonable and only serves to frighten other people from being active participants in the community.”

A former Newton Township police officer was in court Thursday morning for filing a false police report.

Tom Colosimo was arrested back in February after he claimed someone shot him while on duty in Newton Township last summer. Colosimo had stated that he was investigating a possible copper wire theft along railroad tracks in the township when the alleged shooting occurred. However, the Sheriff's office says its investigation shows discrepancies in Colosimo's version of the incident, and his polygraph test showed deception.

A final pretrial is scheduled for October 14 with a jury trial set for November.

NEWTON FALLS - The city's police chief and law director are on track to be granted new, multi-year contracts. If City Council approves the contracts, one city resident vowed to place a referendum on the ballot giving voters a say in the matter.

Police Chief John M. Kuivila, who's served since November 2008, would receive a five-year contract while Law Director Richard F. Schwartz, who has held that position since 1992, would receive a four-year contract. City Council on Monday unanimously passed the first of three readings on two ordinances detailing the new contracts.

Kuivila would receive no pay increase for the remainder of 2009. His base salary this year is $59,540. His pay increases are not spelled out, but the contract states he would receive the same annual pay increases as other city department managers and supervisors. He would be required to work a minimum 80 hours every two weeks.

NEWTON FALLS - If Pat Layshock is correct, city council made him a mayor-in-exile, but he said he'll be back.

Not at tonight's meeting, but the meeting on Aug. 3.

"I still consider myself the mayor of Newton Falls. I am waiting to hear from the law director," Layshock said on Friday.

Council, however, sees things differently after accepting his resignation at a special meeting July 8.

Layshock, who quit July 6 shortly after Councilman Tom Moorehead questioned whether he put the city's class action 911 lawsuit against Trumbull County at risk by disclosing that the county's attorney's made a settlement offer, said he would rescind his resignation. He sent two letters stating such to the city clerk's office before council met.