Girl rescued from river

Girl rescued from river
WARREN -- A 12-year-girl is to return home today after a harrowing fall into the Mahoning River.
Ashley Batton, 12, of North Street N.W., spent the weekend in the hospital after she was rescued from the icy waters by city police and firefighters. Police reports stated that Ashley was with her friend Saturday afternoon when they decided to walk across the Mahoning River.
Ashley told police that she was walking on the ice when she heard it crack under her feet. She attempted to get off but fell into the water. Her friend, Crystal Lark, 13, of Freeman Street N.W., ran for help. Firefighters and police formed a human chain and were able to get Ashley out of the river. She was transported by ambulance to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
Drug charges
GIRARD -- Two people were expected to appear in Girard Municipal Court later today on drug charges.
Jamie P. Wilson of Girard and David A. Boss of Warren were arrested Saturday night on charges of possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug abuse instruments (a crack pipe) after police broke up a party at Shannon Terrace Apartments.
Boss also was charged with falsification for originally giving police his brother's name and address when asked for identification, reports said.
The building manager called police after detecting a smoky drug odor coming from one of the apartments at 11 p.m., police said
Wilson and Boss were taken to Trumbull County Jail pending their arraignment.
Charged with robbery
NILES -- A 21-year-old man who appeared Friday in Niles Municipal Court was back in police custody Saturday facing a robbery charge.
Jerry G. Ponder, of West State Street, was scheduled for arraignment later today on the charge, which stems from thefts reported Saturday night at 220 Baldwin St. He is in Trumbull County Jail.
A 21-year-old South Street woman reported $900 taken from her purse, and a 23-year-old East Madison Avenue man reported two gold rings and a set of keys taken while they were at the Baldwin Street address.
Reports show both named Ponder as a suspect, and police recovered the keys from Ponder when they searched him.
Ponder was in court Friday morning for a preliminary hearing on charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs and receiving stolen property. That hearing was continued until Jan. 10.
Liquor violations
YOUNGSTOWN --Two people were arrested at the Classique bar on South Avenue on liquor-law violations. Catalina Lopez, 27, of Niles Road, Warren, faces a misdemeanor charge of selling alcohol to a minor after serving a 16-year-old girl at the bar at about 11:20 p.m. Friday, police said.
Carlton K. Holness, 52, of Compton Lane, Youngstown, was working as doorman at the South Side bar and faces a misdemeanor charge of permitting a minor to enter an establishment that serves liquor.
Theft at senior center
YOUNGSTOWN -- A thief has stolen money collected for trips and activities from the Mahoning County senior center on Fifth Avenue, city police reports show. A Park Vista employee told officers Friday that $145 was taken from a safe sometime between closing time Monday and Tuesday morning and that $340 had been stolen in late November.