Fires strike CCA, house

Fires strike CCA, house
YOUNGSTOWN -- Employees and residents of Community Corrections Association, 1740 Market St., evacuated the building at about 1:30 a.m. today because of a fire. Battalion Chief Terrence Jordan said there were no injuries. Firefighters found a plastic milk crate in a laundry room containing smoldering rags. As they removed a carton, it burst into flames. Jordan said the cause remains under investigation. Jordan said arson is suspected in an unrelated fire that caused $5,000 damage to a South Side home at about 11 p.m. Thursday at 425 Williamson Ave. The house is vacant with no operating utilities. There were no injuries.
Armed robbery
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 63-year-old woman told police she suspects her 16-year-old foster child was one of two armed people who entered her East Side home early today and stole a television/VCR combo and a radio with CD player. She said the teen knocked on her Republic Avenue door and announced himself, so she let him in. She said both robbers wore bandannas over their faces and carried shotguns. She said the weapons were not pointed at her and she was not threatened.
Cop kills attacking dog
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city police officer shot and killed a Rottweiler in a South Side neighborhood after the dog had attacked a neighbor's dog, attempted to attack the neighbor and charged toward the officer. Police reports show that officers responded to Oakhill Aveue at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday where a man told them the Rottweiler and a pit pull had attacked his dog. The owner, 25, of West Princeton, was cited for failing to license a dog, failing to insure a dog and failing to confine a dog. The pit bull was taken by the dog warden.
Naming of courthouse
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted 410-0 to name the new federal courthouse being built in Youngstown the Nathaniel R. Jones and Frank J. Battisti Federal Building and United States Courthouse in honor of the two federal judges born in Youngstown. The legislation was proposed by U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, D-17th. Judges Battisti and Jones were leaders in school desegregation efforts. The legislation needs approval by the U.S. Senate.
Mayor: City in distress
CAMPBELL -- Mayor John Dill has requested that the city be placed back on Ohio's list of cities under situational distress. Campbell had been on the list, which includes Warren and Youngstown, until 1999. But Dill's predecessors didn't reapply for the status. Distress status gives manufacturing or refining companies located within such cities a 13.5 percent credit against their franchise tax whenever a company purchases machinery or other equipment. The state's usual franchise tax is 7.5 percent. Dill said distress status is based on city income, median age of residents, unemployment rates and population and lasts three years.
ADD lecture for parents
BOARDMAN -- Parents of children with attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities and other special needs are invited to a free lecture by Dan Neolan, a Cleveland attorney who specializes in special education law, at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Western Reserve Baptist Church, 8590 Hitchcock Road. Call (330) 788-9228, (330) 395-2501 or (330) 726-8970.
Fund-raiser for baby
YOUNGSTOWN -- St. Rose of Lima Church and Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana are sponsoring a dinner-dance fund-raiser Saturday for Tyler Miranda, a 1-year-old boy born prematurely, who is now suffering from cerebral palsy and a brain disorder. The child's medical bills now exceed $1 million, and he is scheduled for more surgery over the next few months. The dinner will be at the church, 50 Struthers-Coitsville Road, from 1 to 6 p.m. A dance begins at 7:30 in the church hall. Dinner costs are $7 or $10. The dance is $10. Music will be by the La Riquena Band, DJ Chico and Ronnie Navarra.
No deer hunting in park
BOARDMAN -- Hunting will not be permitted in Mill Creek Park this year because of a reduction in the park's deer population. Mill Creek MetroParks board decided not to allow the hunt after a population count at the end of last year found about 100 deer in the woods.