Suspicious collecting

Suspicious collecting
AUSTINTOWN -- A man and a woman going door to door saying they were collecting money for the local Red Cross and Salvation Army were questioned by police Tuesday afternoon. Police stopped the man, of Claridge Drive, and the woman, of Burkey Road, on Nottingham Drive about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. The two told officers to call an official at the Mahoning County Red Cross to confirm that they were raising money. The officers could not locate the official they named, however. Instead, the officers contacted a woman at the Trumbull County Red Cross, who said she didn't give anyone permission to collect donations. Police confiscated a total of about $90 in donations from the pair.
Car fire probed
WARREN -- City fire officials are investigating the cause of a car fire that broke out early Wednesday on Oak Knoll Avenue. No injuries were reported and firefighters arrived shortly after 1:30 a.m. to find the 1988 Chevrolet Baretta engulfed in the driveway. Reports list the car's owner as John Dyson. It is unclear whether Dyson lived at the home.
Guilty of mail fraud
CLEVELAND -- Edward Pannutti, 47, of Badal Drive, Lowellville, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to two counts of mail fraud. Pannutti, former supervisor at Hardrives asphalt plant in Youngstown, used the U.S. Postal Service to send the phony invoices to, and receive checks from, Mahoning County for $8,750 and Struthers for $10,082 for asphalt not used, the government said. U.S. District Judge Lesley Brooks Wells released Pannutti on $20,000 signature bond and set sentencing for Dec. 11. Panutti's former boss, James R. Sabatine, has pleaded guilty to, among other things, bribing U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, D-17th.
Festival of Bands
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Junior Military Band's 20th annual Festival of Bands, featuring 14 area bands including the Youngstown State University Marching Pride, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at YSU Stadium.
Other bands include: Campbell Memorial, Youngstown Ursuline, East Canton, Mathews (Vienna), Chalker (Southington), Crestview, Rayen, Newton Falls, Struthers, Liberty, Girard and South Range.
Blood donations
YOUNGSTOWN -- St. Elizabeth Health Center's Blood Donor Center is open seven days a week in response to the area's blood shortage. Call (330) 480-2501 to make an appointment to donate blood.
Parking lot bids
NORTH LIMA -- Beaver Township trustees will meet in special session at 9 a.m. Friday to open bids for the improvement project of the safety building parking lot. The meeting will be in the township meeting room in the South Range Plaza.
Parade to open event
LOWELLVILLE -- Lowellville Day is scheduled to begin with a parade at 10 a.m. Sunday at Paul Menechinni Field. Judge R. Scott Krichbaum has been selected as the guest speaker. The day will feature music from 5 to 8 p.m., games and concessions.
Tattoo parlor in house
GIRARD -- Police say they are discussing whether to charge a 36-year-old man with illegally operating a tattoo parlor. James Dobson, assistant city health commissioner, and police went to an Idaho Avenue house Wednesday. They were met by a woman who lives in the house with her boyfriend.
Found in a back room were stencils, a small generator, needles and books related to tattooing. Three handheld machines used in tattooing also were found.
Detective John Norris said that although the man had a certificate of art on the wall, he doesn't have a state license for tattooing.
Norris said the man will most likely be charged with operating an illegal tattoo shop, a misdemeanor.
Pupil suspended
CANFIELD -- A 9-year-old boy was suspended from Hilltop Elementary for two days last week after he threatened to shoot a fellow pupil.
The principal of the school told police on Wednesday that the boy had been teased because his pet rabbit had recently run away. Other pupils were making "bunny ears" behind their heads and singing "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" in the presence of the boy.
A teacher told police that the boy said he didn't like school and wanted to be suspended. Police advised the boy Wednesday that it is illegal to threaten a shooting.