Police search for armed robber

Police searchfor armed robber
GIRARD -- Police are investigating a robbery early today at a South State Street convenience store.
An employee told police a man with a knife came into Shell Foodmart about 3 a.m. He ordered employees to get behind the counter and demanded money and cigarettes. He then ordered employees to the floor and cut the telephone cord as he fled.
The suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s, about 5-foot-10-inches tall. He wore a stocking cap and a bandanna over his face.
Phony money
NILES -- A man paid for electronic equipment with $500 in counterfeit bills. Circuit City, Youngstown-Warren Road, reported to police that the man paid for a Sony Play Station and a DVD player with 25 bogus $20 bills.
Police probe robberyat Burger King
WARREN -- Police are looking for the gunman who robbed the West Side Burger King over the weekend.
Employees say a man entered the restaurant at 2880 W. Market St. on Sunday night, taking an undisclosed amount of money shortly before 8:30 p.m.
Authorities say the man pointed his gun and ordered the restaurant's employees to lie on the floor. Reports did not indicate if there were patrons inside at the time.
Cash was taken from registers and a safe. Police say the man also took a cordless phone.
Swimming lessonsare set at Niles Y
NILES -- The Eastwood branch of the Trumbull County YMCA is offering swimming lessons to home-schooled children.
Swimming classes are Thursdays from noon to 12:45 p.m. for ages 3 to 16. The 10-week session runs Jan. 10 through March 14. Registration must be paid in advance.
Also, there will be lifeguard classes Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Jan. 4 through Feb. 1.
Those taking the lifeguard class must be at least 16, know all swimming strokes and be able to swim 500 yards nonstop. A first-aid course is required for certification.
Recertifications and crossovers will be conducted during the Feb. 1 class.
Call the Eastwood Y at (330) 544-2383. The branch is at 995 Youngstown-Warren Road (U.S. Route 422).
Fire damage
YOUNGSTOWN -- A fire that did about $35,000 damage at J.D. Byrider, 775 N. Meridian Road, remains under investigation.
The fire started about 6 p.m. Saturday in the maintenance area of the one-story building used for vehicle repairs and the paint shop.
The used-car rental business had no smoke detectors or sprinklers, a fire department report says.
Road closings in parks
YOUNGSTOWN -- Effective today in Mill Creek Metro Parks, Calvary Run Drive from Milton Avenue to Belle Vista Avenue; Chestnut Hill Drive from Scholl Recreation Area to Canfield Road; and High Drive from West Cohasset Drive to Scholl Recreation Area will be closed to vehicles for the winter. The roads may be used for walking or cross-country skiing. They will reopen to traffic in the spring.
Murder charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University campus police discovered during a traffic stop Sunday night that a passenger in the car had a murder warrant out for her arrest.
Sabrina Bray, 22, of Park Avenue, is accused of killing Alison Bruckner, 29, of Youngstown, found April 5 by a passer-by in a field on Cloister Avenue near Augustine Avenue on the East Side. She was shot in the chest.
Campus police stopped the car at Arlington and North avenue about 9 p.m.
Bray was indicted Nov. 29 and was due for arraignment Dec. 11 in common pleas court.
She was booked into Mahoning County Jail.