Robbery in Austintown

Robbery in Austintown
AUSTINTOWN -- An employee of Econolodge on Seventy-Six Drive tried to foil a theft Friday when she noticed the thief's gun was actually the handle of a hammer. The employee told police a man who said he was carrying a gun came behind the hotel counter and ordered her to the ground at about 6:18 p.m. She looked up, noticing that the gun was actually a hammer handle concealed inside his jacket. The employee then reached up, slammed the thief's hand in the cash register, and fought with him. The thief eventually ran out the door carrying an unspecified amount of cash.
Valley View Gas theft
AUSTINTOWN -- Six and a half cases of cigarettes worth a total of $5,600 were stolen from Valley View Gas late Sunday or early today. An employee told police that the thief entered the building through an access hole in the roof.
Condos burglarized
CANFIELD -- Police are investigating burglaries Saturday afternoon at two Montgomery Road condominiums. Both condominiums were ransacked. A coin collection worth $50 was stolen from one condominium, and $150 in cash was taken from the other residence. Jewelry also was taken from both condominiums. Police said someone kicked in the doors.
Man found deadon South Side street
YOUNGSTOWN -- A man with a gunshot wound to the head was found dead by police on routine patrol about 1 a.m. today. The unidentified victim was found lying in the road at Mercer and Hoffman streets on the South Side. No further information was immediately available this morning. The homicide is the city's 27th this year. At this time last year, the city had recorded 25 homicides.
Anderson is namedToys on Tour station
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Anderson Coach & amp; Travel, 1 Anderson Plaza, will again serve as a collection station for Toys on Tour, the National Tour Association's partnership with the Toys for Tots Foundation, a Marine Corps Reserve project. Collections began today and end Dec. 12. The company is encouraging its customers and others to donate new toys or cash to the program. Anyone donating a toy will be entered in two drawings for a $30 gift certificate.
Railroad funds freed
SALEM -- A federal panel is freeing about $375,000 from the Columbiana County Port Authority's January purchase of the former Youngstown & amp; Southern Railway. The money was part of the $1.1 million purchase price and would have gone to the railroad's former owner, Railroad Ventures Inc. of Boardman. But the federal Surface Transportation Board ordered the $375,000 set aside to make repairs on the recently reopened line, which stretches from Darlington, Pa., to Youngstown, passing through Columbiana County. RVI had contested the set-aside before the board but was overruled last week.
Salvation Army's needs
SALEM -- The Salem Salvation Army is preparing for holiday distribution of food, clothing and toys for needy families. Capt. Tom Hinzman said 360 frozen turkeys are needed for food baskets. Anyone wishing to donate should delivery the turkeys to the Salem Corps at 1249 N. Ellsworth Ave.