Accident kills man

Accident kills man
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 68-year-old Fowler man was killed Sunday afternoon in a two-car crash on state Route 616, police said. His name was being withheld pending notification of family. The victim, northbound on the icy pavement, lost control of his Ford Explorer, which turned sideways near Coitsville Road into the path of a southbound car, said Lt. Mark Milstead of the accident investigation unit. The Explorer veered off the road and rolled over, ejecting the victim, who was not wearing a seat belt, Milstead said. The other driver, a 50-year-old Hubbard man, had minor injuries, Milstead said.
Jesus statue is stolen
LIBERTY -- Township police are searching for Jesus. A life-size statue of the Savior was reported stolen from the Sacred Heart Retreat Center on Loganway. Valued at $3,000, the statue was taken overnight Friday, reports said.
Dog licenses on sale
YOUNGSTOWN -- Dog licenses for 2003 are on sale through the Mahoning County dog warden's office. All dogs at least 3 months old must be licensed. The deadline to buy a license for 2003 is Jan. 31. The $15 license can be bought by mail or at one of several licensing agents in the county. Dog owners who fail to buy a license before the Jan. 31 deadline will pay $30 and be subject to a citation into court.
Police probe threat
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are investigating a report that a Woodland Trace man threatened his wife Sunday by firing a shotgun. The wife told police that she arrived at her house at about 7 p.m. to find her husband holding a shotgun. The wife said that when she turned to leave, the husband fired the gun into the yard. The husband told police that he fired the shot into the air because he feared for his safety. Police confiscated the shotgun.
Investigating fatal fire
AUSTINTOWN -- Investigators are still working to determine the cause of a fire that killed a man Friday morning at a home at 278 Ohltown Road. Steve Fraley, 41, was found dead on the second floor. The Mahoning County coroner could not be reached to comment on the cause of Fraley's death. Firefighters found the first floor of the home burning when they arrived at about 10:20 a.m. They had the blaze under control in about 45 minutes. Arson investigators stayed at the home until about 2:15 p.m., however, looking for the cause of the fire. The home was destroyed. Damage was estimated at about $40,000.
Rash of thefts reported
BOARDMAN -- Township police are investigating a continuing series of thefts from lockers at the Ice Zone on McClurg Road. Five police reports were filed over the weekend regarding money and a cellular phone taken from lockers Saturday. About $95 in cash was reported stolen. Dustin Hawthorne, 19, of Boardman was charged with theft last week in a series of thefts at the business over the last several weeks. He was an employee of the Ice Zone at the time of his arrest. Hawthorne appeared in court Nov. 25 on the theft charge and was released pending a hearing Jan. 2. He has not been charged with the latest series of thefts.
Police probe arson case
LIBERTY -- Police are investigating an arson fire that damaged an ATV and several other items. Officers were called to 4515 Park St. to investigate a trash fire, but found the vehicle on fire. The resident told police someone broke into the trailer where the vehicle and other items were stored in an attempt to steal the ATV. Other items in the trailer also were damaged.
Woman reports scam
LIBERTY -- A Brookfield woman told police she was scammed by two women for $7,000 while shopping. The woman said she was in a store around 1 p.m. Wednesday when she was approached by a black woman who called herself Rebecca and said another woman had found a large sum of money in the parking lot. According to reports, while the two women spoke, another black woman approached them, identified herself as Brenda Atkins and said she worked at Sky Bank. The Atkins woman said she had found the money and was willing to split it with the other two. The Brookfield woman told police she was instructed to withdraw $7,000 from her account at Bank One to prove she had money and meet the other women at a nearby hotel. She gave the money to the Atkins woman, who said she would go into the hotel to meet a colleague who could turn the "found money" into smaller bills. Neither suspect returned.