LEETONIA Police warn teens

An anonymous donor is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of park vandals.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Although problems with out-of-town teen-agers have lessened in recent days, Leetonia Police Chief John Soldano is spreading the word that troublemaking will not be tolerated in the village.
Soldano said that in the past few weeks teen-agers have been driving into Leetonia from the Salem area, attempting to goad Leetonia youths to fight.
"We've been able to break things up before there was much trouble," Soldano said.
"From what I've been hearing on the street, I think it's a matter of payback for some things the Salem teens say our kids did."
Vandalism: Meanwhile, Soldano said there are still few leads in the ongoing investigation of vandalism at Cherry Valley Coke Ovens park.
Soldano said a reward is available to the person who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the park vandalism.
He said police have no evidence the Salem youths are the ones vandalizing the park, but because of their activity -- even with the extra patrols -- "we haven't been in the park the way we'd like to be."
Soldano said he has had extra patrolmen on duty the past few weeks and that will continue through the end of the year. He said the department will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of Leetonia residents.
He said there is money in the budget to continue the extra patrols. He emphasized, however, that he would continue the patrols even if the money were not readily available.
"As long as I am chief here, I will never compromise safety to save money," Soldano said.
"We try to be careful with the budget, but we will always take care of business first."
Park damage: Since volunteers began renovating the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens park in the late 1980s, vandals have broken fencing, park benches and trash cans.
A restroom pavilion added in the last five years is the most recent target.
Vandals popped out Plexiglas windows, broke door handles and knocked a toilet off its foundation.
The park is the site of the former Cherry Valley Iron and Coal Co., which according to historical society records, reached its peak operation in 1900 producing 70,000 tons of pig iron annually.
The site was abandoned in the 1930s after steel production and the Great Depression forced the company out of business. The site was donated to the village for a park in 1962.
tullis@vindy.com