Toys for charities

Toys for charities
WARREN -- Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery was to formally present $7,800 worth of toys to several Mahoning and Trumbull county organizations at the Solace Center today.
The toys are the fruit of a 1997 antitrust settlement against Toys "R" Us. The company was required to provide $370,000 worth of toys each year for three years, as well as a $560,000 cash settlement, said Kristin Kosdrosky, a spokeswoman for the attorney general.
Locally, the toys will be given to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mahoning Valley, Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown, Mahoning County CASA Program, Sojourner House, Someplace Safe, and the Solace Center, which serves as host for visits between children and their noncustodial parents.
Burglary arrests
MECCA -- Deputy sheriffs have arrested one adult and one juvenile, and burglary charges are expected to be filed in court later today, officials said.
Sgt. Phil Eckenrode was on routine patrol around 2 p.m. Wednesday when he saw two males running from a home on North Park Avenue Extension carrying numerous guns. A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol helped find one of the suspects and Eckenrode was able to get the other.
Police recovered the guns, sheriff officials said.
Postal station reopens
HOWLAND -- The Howland contract postal station has reopened in the township's new government center, on state Route 46 near East Market Street.
The station will sell stamps, offer post office boxes for rent and accept packages to be mailed. Bahmer's Howland Pharmacy had a contract postal station until the end of August, when it was temporarily moved to a trailer behind Howland Community Church.
The new station's hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Traffic signal updates
LIBERTY -- The Ohio Department of Transportation is planning to upgrade eight traffic signals on state Route 193 between Colonial Drive and state Route 304 and add a new northbound right-turn lane at the state Route 304 intersection.
The work will coordinate the traffic lights and is intended to improve efficiency and safety on the 1.8-mile stretch.
Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times during construction, scheduled to begin in 2003. Comments or questions about the proposal may be submitted to the Ravenna ODOT office until Dec. 31.
Security at arsenal
RAVENNA -- The Ravenna Arsenal's private contractor security force was augmented, as of Dec. 3, with active duty members of the 1-148th Infantry with headquarters in Delaware.
John Cicero, the commander's representative at the ammunition plant, said the deployment of soldiers is to enhance security but is not related to any military strike nor is it in anticipation of imminent or impending terrorist actions.
Car, pony collision
DARLINGTON, Pa. -- A Columbiana, Ohio, woman was hurt in a collision between her car and a pony.
Pennsylvania State Police said the pony had wandered onto Pa. Route 551, near Little Beaver Road, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when the driver, Joyce Witt, 40, of 139 East Friend St., crashed into it.
She suffered minor injuries and was treated at Beaver Medical Center, police said. There was no word from police on the condition of the pony.
Crime watch meeting
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Dogs will be the topic at the December crime watch meeting of the Springfield Township Police Department at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the township administration building, 3475 South Range Road.
Marcus McLemore of McLemore's Kennel will present "Tips on Good Canine Citizenship" and "Utilizing Your Dog's Potential to Alert You to Crime and Emergencies."
Self-defense workshop
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Township Crime Watch is sponsoring a self-defense workshop for women from 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 15 at the township administration building at 3475 E. South Range Road.
Sgt. Bob Magnuson of the Canfield Police Department will cover personal response options and effective counter techniques.
Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling (330) 542-2377 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.